J.  Henry  Haynie. 


The  Nineteenth  Illinois 

A  MEMOIR  OF  A  REGIMENT  OF  VOLUNTEER 
INFANTRY  FAMOUS  IN  THE  CIVIL  WAR  OF 
FIFTY  YEARS  AGO  FOR  ITS  DRILL,  BRAV 
ERY,  AND  DISTINGUISHED  SERVICES. 


EDITED    BY 

/.  HENRY  HAYN1E,  of  Company  D. 

AUTHOR   OF   "PARIS   PAST   AND    PRESENT,"   "THE 
CAPTAINS  AND  THE  KINGS,"  ETC.;  "CHEV 
ALIER  IN  THE  LEGION  d'HONNEUR 
OF  FRANCE,"  ETC. 


ILLUSTRATED 


"Let  me  review  the  scene, 
And  summon  from  the  shadowy  Past 
The  forms  that  once  had  beeen." 

-LONGFELLOW 


O   CJO 


COPYRIGHTED  BY 

NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  INFANTRY 

VETERAN  CLUB, 

1912. 


M.  A.  DONOHUE  &  CO.,  Chicago 


rO  ALL  THOSE,  DEAD  OR  LIV 
ING,  WHO  SERVED  IN  THE 
OLD  REGIMENT,  LOYAL,  COURA 
GEOUS  MEN,  WHOSE  NAMES  WILL 
EVER  BE  THE  PRIDE  OF  THEIR 
DESCENDANTS, -AN  EMULATION 
FOR  SUBSEQUENT  GENERATIONS,- 
THIS  BOOK  IS  DEDICATED. 


M18178 


> 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 


PREFACE. 

At  a  Regimental  Reunion  of  the  Nineteenth  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry,  held  under  the  auspices  of  the  Regiment's  Veteran 
Club,  in  Memorial  Hall,  Chicago,  October  13  and  14,  1911,  it 
was  unanimously  voted  to  have  something  in  the  way  of  a 
History,  or  Memoir,  of  the  old  organization  prepared  and  pub 
lished  as  soon  as  possible.  The  following  comrades  were  present 
at  this  meeting:  Company  A — John  E.  Vreeland,  James  Gaffney, 
John  Q.  Fergus,  Robert  R.  Sampson,  James  Bloomfield,  Joseph 
M.  Spahn,  and  J.  F.  Nelson;  Company  C — James  C.  McElhose, 
Frank  Applebee,  John  Ives,  and  Miles  Martin;  Company  D — 
J.  Henry  Haynie,  and  John  Marshall;  Company  E — David  F. 
Bremner,  John  Young,  David  McArthur,  Thomas  King,  and 
Thomas  H.  Agnew;  Company  F — A.  F.  Scharf;  Company  H — 
John  Dedrick,  C.  Van  Order,  and  John  Mercer;  Company  I — D. 
B.  Morehouse,  Howard  F.  Beardsley,  and  Charles  G.  Heath;  Com 
pany  K — George  Eckart,  James  Fenton,  Andrew  Burns,  William 
H.  Christian,  Albert  Heller,  August  Brinkman,  and  William 
Butler. 

In  the  fraternal,  yet  animated,  discussion  which  prevailed  it 
was  stated  that  such  a  history  had  been  comtemplated  from  time 
to  time.  Finally,  it  was  fittingly  decided  that  a  "Memoir"  was 
a  much  desired  purpose  of  this  Regimental  Reunion,  and,  toward 
accomplishing  this  work,  a  committee  of  three  were  chosen  to 
gather  in  all  information  possible.  Comrade  Haynie,  of  Com 
pany  D,  now  a  resident  of  Newton  Center,  Massachusetts, — 
this  was  his  first  attendance  since  the  members  of  the  Nineteenth 
have  been  holding  these  gatherings — offered  his  professional 
services  in  the  carrying  out  of  this  commendable  attempt;  and, 
by  taking  the  material  thus  secured,  adding  to  the  same  his  own 
researches,  knowledge,  and  recollections,  and  putting  the  whole 
into  proper  shape  for  publication,  both  he  and  the  Committee 
now  have  the  great  pleasure  of  submitting  the  results  of  their 
joint  labors  in  the  present  volume.  All  things  in  the  book  not 
duly  credited  to  other  sources  are  from  Comrade  Haynie's  pen, 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

therefore  responsibility  not  only  for  compilation  but  for  opinions 
expressed,  and  as  to  the  facts,  must  rest  with  him,  which  respon 
sibility  he  cheerfully  assumes.  It  is  to  be  noted,  however,  that 
many  of  these  pages  were  prepared  originally  either  for  the  re 
vived  Zouave  Gazette,  or  as  papers  to  be  read  at  our  occasional 
gatherings  since  the  War. 

At  this  Reunion  of  1911  every  comrade  present  was  personally 
urged — the  absent  members  of  the  Club  were  subsequently  re 
quested  by  letter — to  lend  a  helping  hand  toward  this  good  work, 
perhaps  the  last  we  may  ever  give  of  ourselves  to  posterity. 
These  appeals  met  with  hearty  and  prompt  response  in  some  few 
instances,  but  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  many  neglected  the  "call," 
not  to  arms  but  to  the  pen,  though  no  doubt  satisfactory  reasons 
would  be  furnished  if  the  delinquents  were  asked  to  explain  their 
forgetfulness.  And  now  that  the  task  of  love  is  finished  and  the 
book  is  out,  we  commend  "The  Nineteenth  Illinois"  to  all  the 
surviving  members  of  the  Regiment;  likewise  to  their  families, 
to  their  innumerable  relatives  and  friends,  and  to  the  American 
public  generally,  as  a  work  which  we  believe  to  be  of  real  value, 
and  well  worth  the  reading. 

The  Nineteenth  was  mustered  into  the  Union  service  at 
Chicago,  Illinois,  on  the  seventeenth  of  June,  1861,  with  thirty- 
seven  officers  and  nine  hundred  and  sixteen  enlisted  men;  it  re 
ceived  during  its  term  of  service  (three  years)  264  recruits,  mak 
ing  a  total  of  1,180  enrolled  volunteers  in  its  ranks.  Of  this  ag 
gregate  force — officers  and  men— ninety-seven  were  killed  or 
died  of  their  wounds  or  injuries,  one  hundred  and  two  were  more 
or  less  seriously  wounded,  seventy-four  were  taken  prisoners  and 
held,  some  in  Andersonville,  some  in  Libby  Prison,  the  others  in 
different  places,  for  various  lengths  of  time.  Besides  these, 
eleven  were  missing  in  action  and  have  never  been  heard  from; 
ten  died  in  rebel  prisons;  forty-five  from  diseases,  two  hundred 
and  fifteen  were  discharged  on  surgeon's  certificate  of  disability, 
and  nine  because  of  wounds  received  in  battle.  Meanwhile, 
twenty-six  enlisted  men  were  promoted  to  be  line  officers  in  our 
own  regiment,  and  eleven  as  officers  into  other  regiments.  We 
also  lost  an  entire  company  (G),  it  having  been  reorganized  into 
a  battery;  and  on  our  leaving  the  front  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
two  recruits  were  left  behind  to  serve  out  their  unexpired  terms. 
Many  of  these,  with  numerous  Comrades  in  the  Regiment  who 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

had  re-enlisted  as  Veterans,  had  the  great  privilege  of  participat 
ing  in  one  of  the  most  remarkable,  we  might  even  say,  unparalled, 
military  events  in  history,  the  Grand  Review  in  Washington  at 
the  end  of  the  War. 

While  in  the  service  our  Regiment  was  engaged  in  innumerable 
skirmishes,  many  combats,  half  a  score  of  engagements,  and  at 
least  four  great  battles,  viz.:  vStone  River,  Chickamauga,  Mis 
sionary  Ridge,  and  Resaca.  It  travelled  by  rail  about  2,400 
miles,  by  steamboat  over  six  hundred,  and  marched  quite  1,600 
more,  making  a  total  of  something  like  5,211  miles.  Every  mile 
of  country  over  which  we  trod  has  long  since  changed  its 
aspect,  but  will  ever  be  historical  ground.  Unknown,  unmapped, 
uninviting  places  were  baptized  in  human  blood,  thus  receiving 
names  to  be  chronicled  as  shrines  for  future  patriots.  But  these 
pilgrims  of  years  to  come  will  perhaps  have  less  enthusiasm,  less 
keen  scent  for  local  color,  than  might  be  displayed  by  the  sur 
vivors  of  those  stirring  events  of  grim  visaged  war  were  we  to 
return  to  where  our  company,  or  our  battery,  or  our  squadron 
fought.  If  such  re- visit  to  battlefields  were  practicable  and  really 
made,  we  should  probably  be  saying  to  one  another:  "There's 
where  our  Regiment  was;"  or,  "Here's  where  the  'Johnnies' 
gave  way;"  or,  "This  is  the  very  spot  where  I  lost  my  blanket;" 
or,  "Yonder  is  where  we  charged  Adam's  brigade;"  or,  and  much 
more  softly,  "It  seems  to  me  that  this  was  where  So-and-So  wras 
killed." 

Leaving  Chicago  the  twelfth  of  July,  1861,  and  going  south 
ward,  after  we  were  done  with  Missouri,  until  we  came  finally 
to  the  town  of  Ackworth,  in  Cobb  county,  Georgia,  only  a  few 
miles  from  "Kennesaw,  dark  in  its  glory,"  the  Nineteenth,  on 
the  ninth  of  June,  1864,  for  the  first  time  turned  back  from  the 
enemy,  bade  goodbye  forever  to  the  Fourteenth  Corps  and  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  arrived  at  Chicago  almost  three 
years  after  our  departure  from  that  city.  There,  in  Camp  Fry, 
at  the  far  end  of  the  North  Side — it  was  at  the  extreme  end  of 
the  South  Side  that  we  had  been  mustered  in — on  the  ninth  of 
July,  1864,  the  Regiment — twenty-eight  officers  and  three  hun 
dred  and  thirty-three  men — was  mustered  out  of  service;  and  we, 
its  few  survivors  could  look  back  with  the  proud  satisfaction  of 
knowing  that  Ours  was  considered  the  best  drilled  Regiment  in 
the  Western,  if  not  in  all  the  Armies.  During  its  service  it  had 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

crossed  fields  and  forded  rivers,  climbed  mountains  and  struggled 
through  forests,  in  the  face  of  a  desperate  foe.  It  had  labored 
hard  along  terrible  roads  and  suffered  severely  from  camp  dis 
eases.  It  was  often  sorely  tried,  and  sometimes  the  men  mur 
mured,  but  were  ever  ready,  aye,  eager,  to  meet  the  enemy. 
Thousands  on  thousands  of  soldiers  at  the  front,  and  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  citizens  at  home,  had  sung  a  grand  war  hymn 
composed  in  honor  of  its  supreme  courage  at  Stone  River.  The 
illustrious  and  lamented  author  of  "America"  wrote  a  stirring 
poem  to  commemorate  the  valor  of  its  soldiers;  and  all  of  them — 
the  dead  and  the  living — may  feel  glorified  by  reason  of  having 
once  belonged  to  such  a  Regiment. 


It  is  with  profound  sorrow  we  announce  that  since  the  above 
was  written  our  greatly  beloved  comrade,  soldier  and  author, 
J.  Henry  Haynie,  departed  this  life  at  his  home,  Newton  Center, 
Massachusetts,  on  May  14,  1912. 

"Time  laid  his  hand  upon  his  heart 

Gently,  not  smiting  it, 
But  as  a  harper  lays  his  open  palm  upon  his  harp 

To  deaden  its  vibrations." 

Our  late  comrade  had  an  enviable  war  record.  He  enlisted 
April  15,  1861,  on  President  Lincoln's  first  call  for  troops  and 
served  continuously  until  the  muster-out  of  his  regiment  July  9th, 
1864. 

He  was  seriously  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  the  battle 
of  Stone  River,  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee,  was  exchanged  and 
rejoined  his  regiment  on  the  eve  of  the  Chickamauga  campaign. 
He  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  and  shared  in  the  bril 
liant  assault  of  Missionary  Ridge. 

In  the  Atlanta  campaign  he  was  engaged  at  Tunnel  Hill, 
Rocky  Face  Ridge,  Battle  of  Resaca  and  other  battles  and  en 
gagements  of  the  campaign  up  to  the  occupation  of  Ack worth, 
Georgia;  on  all  occasions  with  distinguished  gallantry. 

Prominent  in  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  he  was  Com 
mander  of  Charles  Ward  Post,  Newton,  Massachusetts,  was 
delegate  at  large  to  the  National  Encampment  in  1907  and 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

Assistant  Inspector  General  on  the  staff  of  National  Commander 
General  R.  B.  Brown. 

We  desire  to  place  upon  record  our  deep  sense  of  the  loss 
sustained  by  his  loving  and  devoted  wife  and  children,  by  his 
host  of  friends  and  by  his  former  comrades  who  shared  with 
him  in  the  stirring  events  so  graphically  detailed  by  him  in  this 
volume.  We  deeply  mourn  his  loss. 

David  F.  BREMNER,  Company  E, 
JOHN  YOUNG,  Company  E, 
JAMES  BLOOMFIELD,  Company  A, 

Committee. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  11 

WHO'LL  SAVE  THE  LEFT?" 


Through  three  long  days  the  battle  raged 

In  front  of  Murfreesboro; 
And  cannon  balls  tore  up  the  earth 

As  plows  turn  up  the  furrow. 
Brave  soldiers  by  the  hundreds  fell 

In  fierce  assault  and  sally, 
While  bursting  shell  hiss'd,  screamed,  and  fell 

Like  demons  in  the  valley. 

The  Northman  and  the  Southron  met 

In  bold  defiant  manner; 
Now  victory  perched  on  Union  Flag, 

And  now  on  Rebel  banner. 
But  see!     Upon  the  Union's  left 

Bear  down  in  countless  numbers — 
With  shouts  that  seem  to  wake  the  hills 

From  their  eternal  slumbers. 

The  Rebel  hosts,  whose  iron  rain 

Beats  down  our  weaker  forces, 
And  covers  all  the  battle-plain 

With  torn  and  mangled  corses! 
Still  onward  press  the  Rebel  hordes, 

More  boldly,  fiercer,  faster; 
But  Negley's  practiced  eye  discerns 

The  swift  and  dread  disaster. 

"Who'll  save  the  Left?"  his  voice  rang  out 

Above  the  roar  of  battle. 
"The  Nineteenth!"  shouted  Colonel  Scott, 

Amid  the  muskets'  rattle. 
"The  Nineteenth  be  it — make  the  charge!" 

Quick  as  the  words  were  given 
The  Nineteenth  fell  upon  the  foe 

As  lightning  falls  from  Heaven. 


12  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

Over  the  stream  they  went,  into  the  fight; 
Cutting  their  way  on  the  left  and  the  right ; 
Unheeding  the  storm  of  the  shot  and  the  shell, 
Unheeding  the  fate  of  their  Comrades  who  fell. 
Onward  they  sped  like  the  fierce  lightning's  flash; 
Onward  they  sped  with  a  tornado's  crash; 
Onward  they  sped  like  the  bolts  of  the  thunder, 
Resistlessly  crushing  the  Rebel  host  under, 
Till,  wild  in  their  terror,  they  scattered  and  fled — 
Leaving  heaps  upon  heaps  of  their  dying  and  dead ! 
And  the  shouts  that  went  up  with  the  set  of  the  sun 
Told  the  charge  was  triumphant,  the  great  battle  won. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  13 


INTRODUCTION. 


It  is  more  than  half  a  century  since  the  beginning  of  the 
Civil  War;  it  is  forty-seven  years  since  that  war  ended  with  the 
complete  restoration  of  the  American  Union.  After  Appo- 
mattox,  James  Russell  Lowell,  himself  a  Federal  soldier,  wrote: 
"The  news  is  from  Heaven.  I  felt  a  strange  and  tender  exul 
tation.  I  wanted  to  laugh  and  I  wanted  to  cry,  and  ended  by 
holding  my  peace  and  feeling  devoutly  thankful.  There  is 
something  magnificent  in  having  a  country  to  love.  It  is  almost 
like  what  one  feels  for  a  woman.  Not  so  tender,  perhaps,  but 
to  the  full  as  self -forgetful." 

Impossible  as  it  may  seem,  our  Country  is  really  a  land  of 
many  wars;  for  although  as  a  great  Nation,  we  are  one  of  the 
youngest  on  the  Globe,  the  valleys  and  the  hills,  the  plains  and 
the  mountains  we  call  America,  and  are  our  own,  are  as  old  as 
the  oldest  countries  of  the  Ancient  World;  indeed  some  parts 
of  our  vast  territory  are  thick-piled  with  ruined  towns  and  hab 
itations  which  are  believed  to  be  of  greater  antiquity  than  the 
famed  desolations  of  Greece  and  Egypt.  This  Continent  has 
probably  been  a  fighting  field  for  more  than  twenty-five  cen 
turies,  and  for  that  length  of  time  man  has  struggled  here  to 
defend  himself,  or  to  take  possession.  On  this  Continent,  and 
in  long  past  ages,  men  by  swarms,  naked  or  in  the  hairy  skins 
of  animals  they  brought  down  with  flint-tipped  spear  or  arrow 
roamed  in  search  of  their  enemies.  And  no  sooner  had  these 
hordes  become  tribal  organizations  than  the  struggle  for  pos 
session  leapt  again  to  the  fore  and  wars  were  everywhere.  Cen 
turies  later,  in  the  dim  majestic  forest,  hoar  with  time  but  silent 
now  and  filled  with  the  brooding  pathos  of  forgotten  things,  the 
Amarinds,  that  is  to  say,  the  human  beings  wrongly  called  In 
dians,  took  and  held  this  Continent.  In  many  a  region  of  our 
now  beloved  land  uncounted  warriors  once  streamed  as  ruthless 
forces,  advancing  and  retreating,  burning  and  destroying. 
Down  many  a  flowing  stream,  or  on  many  a  pond  or  lake,  their 
war  canoes  came  or  went,  leaving  billows  of  blood  at  this  bend 


14  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

or  these  shallows  of  river  where,  fighting  hand  to  hand,  savages 
battled  to  retain  or  gain.  After  innumerable  wars  between 
the  first  inhabitants  came  the  many  wars  between  Red  Men  and 
White  Men.  The  Anglo-Saxon  had  arrived,  at  Jamestown  and 
at  Plymouth,  and  he  hastened  to  take  possession  by  force  of 
arms.  A  thirst  for  empire  came  with  the  new  comers,  and  the 
wars  they  brought  on  continued  for  more  than  two  hundred 
years.  Here,  there,  and  yonder  the  Red  Men  and  the  Whites 
fought  fiercely,  the  pomp  and  pride  of  paint  and  plumes  and 
bows  and  arrows  against  the  stern  ruggedness  of  those  bearing 
rifles  which  spoke  death.  They  fought  for  centuries — one  for 
increased  territory,  unbounded  power,  and  civilization;  the  other 
for  his  home  and  native  hunting  grounds. 

After  that,  indeed  in  the  midst  thereof,  the  Revolution  oc 
curred,  and  from  Lexington  and  Bunker  Hill  into  the  South  and 
Middle  West  ran  not  only  war's  alarms,  but  many  a  battle 
between  Anglo-Saxons,  one  side  fighting  for  freedom  and  in 
dependence,  the  other  side  to  crush  and  still  control.  That 
war  ended,  another  broke  forth  within  thirty  years  or  so  and 
again  between  kindred  people.  Once  more  our  land  heard  the 
heavy  tread  of  an  armed  invading  force,  but  the  Battle  of  New 
Orleans  was  the  last  of  the  W^ar  of  1812,  and  since  then  no 
foreign  foe  has  ventured  to  set  foot  upon  the  soil  of  this  Republic. 
And  then,  less  than  half  a  century  after  our  last  war  with  Eng 
land,  the  most  terrible  strife  this  Continent  has  ever  known,  or 
ever  will  know,  God  willing,  shook  the  heart  and  rent  the  soul 
of  the  United  States  of  America.  Its  valleys  and  hills,  its  fields 
and  woods,  its  brooks  and  mighty  rivers  swarmed  with  armed 
men,  and  the  smoke  and  groans  of  deadly  conflict  went  up  from 
thousands  of  battle  grounds.  Those  warriors  were,  in  the  main, 
not  only  white,  but  of  the  same  race  and  Nation.  It  was  officially 
called  the  War  of  Rebellion,  and  later,  the  Civil  War;  it  was 
really  a  fratricidal  war  of  brother  against  brother,  father  against 
son,  friend  against  friend;  the  same  people  of  the  same  Republic, 
and  of  the  same  churches,  at  each  others  throats  in  deadly 
earnestness.  The  hills  and  the  mountains,  the  lakes  and  the 
streams,  the  towns  and  the  cities,  the  fields  and  the  meadows, 
beheld  two  enormous  armies,  one  in  Blue  the  other  in  Gray — 
most  of  their  soldiers  sons  of  a  common  ancestry,  having  the 
same  scorn  of  clanger,  the  same  heroic  determination — in  battle 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  15 

array,  but,  alas!  one  side  attempting  to  destroy,  while  the  other 
side  was  loyally  supporting  the  National  Union.  Then  men  of 
the  same  race  and  kin  strove  and  dared,  blundered  and  achieved, 
fought  out  their  utmost  reserves  of  strength,  until  a  quarter  of  a 
million  of  them  lay  in  ghastly  windrows  on  the  same  blood- 
darkened  earth  where  stag  and  lynx,  wolf  and  bear,  brown  men 
and  red  men  have  torn  one  another  through  an  immensity  of 
centuries.  It  is  with  that  war  and  some  of  its  battles,  that  is  to 
say,  with  a  few  hundred  of  its  loyal  soldiers  who  participated  in 
it,  that  we  have  to  do  in  these  pages. 

It  has  been  clearly  estimated  that  in  the  struggle  which  be" 
gan  in  1861,  there  were,  on  both  sides,  nearly  4,000,000  men  and 
boys  under  arms,  and  there  are  not  that  many  soldiers  today  in  all 
the  standing  armies  of  combined  Europe.  If  we  say  there  were 
boys  as  well  as  men  engaged  in  the  Civil  War  it  is  because  it  is 
a  fact.  Of  the  total  enlistments,  aggregating  2,300,000,  in 
round  numbers,  for  the  Union  armies  and  navies — 1,700,000  is 
the  established  estimate  of  the  Confederate  enlistments — there 
were  no  fewer  than  a  million  who  were  under  nineteen  years  of 
age,  and  there  were  nearly  one  hundred  thousand  under  fifteen 
years.  There  are  no  reliable  records  of  the  losses  on  the  Southern 
side  but  on  the  Northern  side  the  number  of  killed  and  mortally 
wounded  amounted  to  about  146,000;  while  the  grand  total  of 
deaths  resulting  from  military  operations  was  395,000.  In  all 
probability  the  losses  were  approximately  the  same  on  both 
sides,  that  is  to  say,  one-fourth  of  the  entire  armed  force  in  the 
Civil  War  was  destroyed.  In  other  words,  nearly  800,000  lives 
were  lost;  six  hundred  thousand  men  and  boys  were  made 
cripples  for  life;  and  more  than  two  million  mothers,  widows, 
sisters,  and  orphans  were  made  to  mourn  for  the  loved  ones  in 
the  war.  All  told,  no  less  than  two  thousand  two  hundred 
combats,  one  hundred  and  forty-nine  of  which  were  important 
battles,  were  fought.  The  loss  in  property  ran  into  thousands 
of  millions  of  dollars;  the  actual  cost  to  the  Nation  was  over 
$5,000,000,000;  and  as  has  been  stated,  the  sacrifice  in  life  was 
beyond  all  precedent  in  modern  history.  If  we  count  pensions 
and  other  expenses  since  1865,  the  Civil  War  has  thus  far  cost 
this  Country  about  $8,525,000,000— a  cost  almost  beyond  the 
mind  of  man  to  grasp. 

But,  on  the  other  hand,  look  for  a  moment  at  what  has  been 


16  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

brought  about  by  reason  of  all  that  the  Union  soldiers  and  sailors 
accomplished  half  a  century  or  so  ago.  At  the  beginning  of  1861, 
the  population  of  the  United  States  was  no  more  than  32,000,000, 
and  the  National  wealth  was  only,  about  $8,000,000,000,  or 
$250.00  per  capita.  Within  less  than  fifty  years  after  the  close 
of  the  War  of  Rebellion  the  population,  in  round  numbers  is 
92,000,000,  and  the  National  wealth  has  become  $117,000,000,- 
000,  or  nearly  fifteen  times  what  it  was  half  a  century  previously, 
while  the  per  capita  has  risen  to  $1,275.00.  It  will  hardly  be 
denied  that  this  unparalleled  prosperity  became  possible  wholly 
by  reason  of  the  patriotism  and  the  sacrifices  of  those  who  op 
posed  the  armed  forces  which  sought  to  destroy  this  Country  in 
the  early  sixties. 

Another  thing.  Those  who  were  in  the  American  Civil  War 
battled  for  four  years  and  one  month;  the  heroes  of  the  Crimean 
War — French,  English,  Turks,  and  Russians — were  fighting 
less  than  one-fourth  as  long.  The  duration  of  our  Civil  War  was 
seven  times  as  great  as  that  of  the  Franco-Prussian  conflict 
which  overthrew  an  Empire,  consolidated  Germany,  and  es 
tablished  the  French  Republic.  It  was  twenty-four  times  as 
long  as  the  Franco-Austrian  war.  Moreover,  in  its  influence 
upon  national  and  human  destinies,  that  war  of  fifty  years  ago 
is  still  more  conspicuous;  for  it  not  only  made  an  end  of  human 
slavery  in  North  America,  but,  as  an  exhibition  of  military  ca 
pacity  and  a  revelation  of  our  prodigious  possibilities  of  armed 
resistance,  it  taught  the  world  the  advisability,  and  indeed  the 
absolute  necessity,  of  letting  the  United  States  alone,  as  the  one 
unassailable  and  defensively  irresistible  Power  on  earth.  Nor 
was  the  success  of  the  North  in  the  Civil  War  a  triumph  in  a 
sectional  sense,  as  time  has  since  shown  that  it  was  for  the  in 
terest  of  the  whole  Nation. 

In  the  ancient  world  there  were  several  motives  for  war,  and 
the  last  of  them  is  to  be  found  in  slavery.  This,  too,  was  in  a 
way,  the  motive  of  the  Civil  War.  It  was  because  the  Southern 
States  were  determined  that  slavery  should  not  only  continue 
in  their  midst,  but  should  be  spread  into  adjacent  territory,  that 
they  seceded  form  the  Union.  Early  in  February,  1850,  Henry 
Clay  presented  in  the  Senate  at  Washington  a  series  of  resolu 
tions,  known  ever  since  as  the  Clay  Compromise,  on  the  slavery 
question  in  the  United  States.  Speaking  in  favor  of  his  resolu- 


r  , 


0 


r  tag 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  17 

tions,  and  in  answer  to  repeated  threats  to  dissolve  the  American 
Confederation  by  secession,  the  venerable  Senator  from  Ken 
tucky  said:  "In  my  opinion,  there  is  no  right  on  the  part  of 
any  one  or  more  of  the  States  to  secede  from  the  Union.  War 
and  dissolution  of  the  Union  are  identical  and  inevitable.  There 
can  be  a  dissolution  only  by  consent  or  war,  and  such  a  war  as 
it  would  be!  We  may  search  the  pages  of  history,  and  none  so 
ferocious,  so  bloody,  so  implacable,  so  exterminating — not  even 
the  wars  of  Greece,  of  England,  or  of  France;  none  of  them  all — 
have  been  characterized  by  such  bloodshed  as  would  the  war 
which  must  succeed,  if  that  event  ever  happens,  the  dissolution 
of  the  Union." 

The  debate  on  these  resolutions  continued  for  several  months, 
taking  a  very  extensive  range.  Among  those  who  spoke  in  their 
support  were  Henry  Clay,  Daniel  Webster,  Stephen  A.  Douglas, 
Cass,  Walker,  Baldwin,  Benton,  Seward,  and  others;  opposed  to 
them  were  Calhoun,  Davis,  Soule,  Berrien,  Butler,  Badger, 
Mason,  Hunter,  etc.  These  latter  threatened  disunion,  and  it 
was  in  answer  to  the  fiery  speech  of  John  C.  Calhoun,  read  by 
Mr.  Mason — the  famous  Southern  Senator  was  then  struggling 
with  the  disease  which  soon  after  terminated  in  his  death — that 
Webster  exclaimed:  ''Secession!  Peaceable  secession!  Sir, 
your  eyes  and  mine  are  never  destined  to  see  that  miracle. 
Peaceable  secession!  A  concurrent  agreement  of  all  the  mem 
bers  of  this  great  republic  to  separate!  What  would  be  the 
result?  Where  is  the  line  to  be  drawn?  What  states  are  to  be 
associated?  What  is  to  remain  America?  What  am  I  to  be? 
W^here  is  the  Flag  to  remain?  Where  is  the  eagle  still  to  tower, 
or  is  he  to  cower,  and  fall  to  the  ground?  Why,  sir,  our  ances 
tors,  our  fathers  and  grandfathers,  those  of  them  who  still  re 
main  amongst  us  by  reason  of  prolonged  life,  would  reproach  us, 
and  our  children  and  grandchildren  would  cry  out  shame  upon 
us,  if  we  of  this  generation  should  bring  dishonor  upon  these 
ensigns  of  the  power  and  harmony  of  the  Union  which  we  see 
around  us  now  with  so  much  joy  and  gratitude."  And  later  on, 
in  answer  to  the  speech  of  Senator  Soule,  Mr.  Wrebster  said: 
"I  shall  stand  by  the  Union,  and  by  all  who  stand  by  it.  I  shall 
act  for  the  good  of  the  whole  country  in  all  I  do.  I  mean  to 
stand  upon  the  Constitution.  I  need  no  other  platform.  I 


18  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

shall  know  but  our  Country.  The  ends  I  aim  at  shall  be  my 
Country's,  my  God's  and  Truth's." 

The  people  of  the  South  justified  Negro  slavery  on  the  plea 
of  race  inferiority.  "With  us,"  said  Alexander  Stephens — af- 
•  terward  Vice-President  of  the  Confederacy— "with  us,  all  the 
white  race,  however  high  or  low,  rich  or  poor,  are  equal  in  the 
law.  Not  so  with  the  negro;  subordination  is  his  place."  And 
Stephens,  like  too  many  men  in  the  South,  maintained  that  the 
natural  and  normal  condition  of  the  Negro  was  slavery.  He 
further  said,  in  that  same  speech:  "It  is  upon  this  (slavery) 
our  social  fabric  is  firmly  planted,  and  I  cannot  permit  myself 
to  doubt  the  ultimate  success  of  the  full  recognition  of  this  prin 
ciple  throughout  the  civilized  and  enlightened  world."  Yet 
within  five  years,  and  notwithstanding  this  remarkable  pre 
diction,  slavery  was  abolished  in  the  United  States,  and  within 
twenty-seven  years  it  was  abolished  in  Brazil,  thus  marking  the 
final  disappearance  of  human  slavery  as  a  legalized  institution 
among  civilized  peoples. 

But  no  historian  can  ever  truthfully  assert  that  we,  the  men 
who  followed  the  Star  Spangled  Banner,  our  Country's  Emblem 
of  Government,  Dignity,  and  Power,  with  such  matchless 
courage  and  heroic  sacrifice  during  the  War  of  Rebellion  were 
moved  at  first  to  volunteer  only  by  the  determination  to  re 
lieve  our  black  fellowmen  from  bondage.  At  the  outbreak  of 
that  war  we  who  first  responded  to  President  Lincoln's  calls 
were  inspired  to  do  so  by  the  noblest  sentiments  of  Loyalty 
and  Patriotism;  and  it  was  not  until  the  terrible  strife  had  gone 
on  for  many  months  that  the  freeing  of  the  slaves  was  made  one 
of  the  great  issues  of  the  contest.  The  progress  of  events 
changed  the  status  ante  quo,  and  the  abolishing  of  slavery  was  a 
legitimate  and  necessary  result  of  the  arbitrament  of  the  sword. 

As  a  rule  war  is  considered  simply  as  a  manifestation  of 
brute  force — an  encounter  between  two  armies  wherein  the  one 
that  is  best  armed  and  is  guided  by  the  ablest  generals,  conquers. 
This  was  not  always  true,  however,  of  the  War  of  1861-65.  It 
was  an  encounter  between  two  divisions — the  North  and  the 
South — of  the  same  Country;  therefore  a  struggle  against  Gov 
ernment  by  a  rebellious  part  of  the  American  people  who  claimed 
the  right  to  secede  from  the  Union  of  States  to  which  each  State 
had  pledged  itself.  The  Civil  War  was  a  struggle  not  between 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  19 

two  rival  nations  but  between  peoples  of  the  same  Race  and 
Country.  On  the  one  side  was  loyalty  to  the  existing  Govern 
ment  and  the  Constitution  established  by  our  forefathers;  on 
the  other  side,  disloyalty  to  that  Government.  Other  peoples 
.have  fought  men  of  their  own  blood  to  preserve  their  liberties, 
or  in  defense  of  their  religion  or  to  secure  their  possessions, 
but  the  political  rights  of  the  South  were  not  menaced,  its 
religion  was  unvexed,  its  hearthstones  were  not  violated. 
Slavery  was  in  danger,  however,  and  the  South  fought  to  retain 
it,  as  "a  principal  cause  of  civilization,"  as  one  Southern  cham 
pion  wrote.  Yet  on  the  eve  of  the  Civil  War,  350,000  planters 
made  up  the  slaveholding  class;  that  is  to  say,  less  than  six  per 
cent  of  the  white  population  of  the  Southern  and  border  States. 
Then  came  rebellion,  and  the  great  question  to  be  decided  was 
whether  the  Union  was  one  and  indissoluble  or  a  compact  of 
Sovereign  States  dissolvable  at  the  pleasure  of  any  of  the  sig 
natories.  War  followed.  For  more  than  fifty  years  the  life 
of  our  Nation  had  been  hanging  by  a  thread.  The  Civil  War 
cut  that  thread  and  the  Union  of  States  wras  bound  with  cords  of 
steel.  But  it  was  a  very  sad  war  to  both  armies,  as  well  as  to 
the  peoples  who  sustained  those  forces  in  the  fields  for  four 
years. 

To  bravely  let  one's  self  be  killed  in  combat,  even  for  a 
righteous  cause,. is  not  at  all  a  pleasant  thing  to  do,  yet,  as  a  rule, 
it  was  done  uncomplainingly.  Very  seldom  were  there  any  hand 
to  hand  conflicts,  where  men,  inflamed  by  the  excitement  of 
determined  energy  and  the  desperation  of  close  quarters,  were 
carried  away  in  a  sort  of  intoxication  under  the  sway  of  which 
they  found  glory  in  feeling  their  flesh  lacerated  and  cut  by  sabres 
and  bayonets  until  they  were  bathed  in  blood;  still  there  were 
some  such  engagements.  Nor  did  our  war  consist  of  brief  exalta 
tions  between  groups  of  soldiers,  but  rather  in  prolonged  and  fear 
ful  struggles  wherein  scores  on  scores  of  thousands  were  engaged, 
with  hundreds  of  yards  usually  separating  the  two  forces.  Plow- 
ever,  the  hardships  of  that  war  were  not  alone  in  the  desperate  ten 
sion  of  muscle  and  courage  required  at  the  decisive  moment  in 
battle,  although  it  sometimes  happened  that  a  strong  effort  of  will 
was  necessary  to  hold  the  bravest  in  the  ranks  at  critical  times. 
There  were  other  hardships,  and  these  consisted  in  the  intermi 
nable  drills,  the  policing  of  camps,  the  building  of  defensive 


20  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

works,  the  frequent  diseases  brought  on  by  foul  water,  the  limited 
supply  of  food — even  when  plentiful,  its  constant  sameness — the 
hard  marches,  the  frequent  bivouacs,  the  lonely  picket  duty 
under  pouring  rains  or  in  the  coldest  weather,  the  illness  borne 
when  medicines  were  not  at  hand,  the  occasional  discouragement 
at  feeling  one's  self  no  longer  master  of  his  own  destiny,  stripped, 
apparently,  of  all  human  worth,  and,  in  a  way,  deprived  of  the 
absolute  and  unconditional  right  to  live,  those  endless  duties 
were  a  constant  drain  upon  enduring  faithfulness,  harder  to  bear, 
often,  than  the  crashing  excitement  of  battle,  while  the  deadly 
suffering  of  camps  and  hospital  were  at  times  easily  worse  than 
all.  Yet  resistance  to  fatigue  and  suffering,  implicit  obedience 
to  those  in  authority,  a  willingness  to  die,  were  the  virtues  which 
the  troops  most  cultivated  in  those  days  of  war  in  the  early 
sixties.  In  short,  with  a  conscious  effort  of  will,  while  in 
fluenced  by  diverse  ethical  sentiments,  we  succeeded  in  becom 
ing  fine  soldiers  in  a  short  time,  principally  by  contracting 
habits  of  discipline,  and  by  dominating  the  instinct  of  self- 
preservation. 

And  to  no  men  now  in  existence  except  the  "old  boys"  lives 
a  joy  so  profound  or  so  thrilling  as  the  tribute  which  rang  in  the 
hearty  cheering  of  the  fighting  line  in  battle  front,  which  beamed 
in  the  thousands  on  thousands  of  faces  uplifted  in  utter  faith 
and  trust,  which  sparkled  in  deep-set  eyes  blazing  with  devotion, 
when  the  beloved  leader,  whose  command  over  Comrade  hearts 
was  as  absolute  as  over  their  destinies,  rode  past.  None  of  us 
who  are  still  spared,  whether  "Johnny  Reb"  or  "Billy  Yank,"  has 
to  shut  his  eyes  to  see  our  great  Commanders  of  the  Civil  War. 
But  we  of  the  North,  when  we  think  of  that  war,  can  never 
overlook  this  important  fact,  that  that  bitter  struggle  was  not 
won  by  soldiers  and  sailors  alone.  In  our  hours  of  gravest 
perils,  in  our  hours  of  greatest  sufferings,  in  our  time  of  greatest 
need,  in  our  moments  of  deepest  exultation,  and  whether  by 
day  or  by  night,  there  was  one  man  more  than  any  other,  more 
indeed  than  all  the  others,  who  carried  the  heaviest  burden, 
the  heaviest  responsibility,  yet  was  never  broken,  was  ever  alert 
and  doing  for  the  armies  in  the  field  and  for  the  fleets  on  the 
seas. 

Mankind  will  never  forget  Abraham,  or  Moses,  or  Leonidas, 
or  Cincinnatus,  of  Pericles,  or  Paul,  or  Richelieu,  or  Cromwell, 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  21 

or  Washington,  or  Gladstone.  Nor  will  mankind  ever  forget 
the  hero-martyr  whom  our  war  added  to  that  grand  company 
of  Immortals.  Lincoln  had  the  faith  of  Abraham,  the  leader 
ship  of  Moses,  the  courage  of  Leonidas,  the  simplicity  of  Cin- 
cinnatus,  the  statesmanship  of  Pericles,  the  intellectual  force  of 
St.  Paul,  the  political  sagacity  of  Richelieu  the  integrity  and  the 
patriotism  of  Washington,  and  the  eloquence  of  Gladstone. 
Lincoln!  How  beautiful  and  good  he  stands  to  our  mind  and 
imagination,  a  man  to  whom  was  given  so  much  of  earth,  so 
much  of  heaven!  With  all  the  civilized  nations  of  the  world 
today  there  is  one  lasting  memory  of  the  Civil  War  in  America, 
and  it  is  the  admiring  remembrance  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  whom 
our  own  dear  State  of  Illinois  gave  to  the  Union  and  to  the 
whole  Country. 

In  no  sense  is  this  work  intended  to  be  a  history  of  the  Civil 
War;  however,  in  the  main,  it  is  merely  pen  and  ink  sketches  of 
some  of  the  incidents  and  of  a  few  of  the  great  battles  in  which 
a  single  regiment  participated.  It  is  the  partial  story  of  the 
doings  of  the  Nineteenth  Illinois  Infantry,  in  many  ways  the 
most  famous  of  the  thousands  of  organizations  in  that  war. 
It  is  the  unvarnished,  yet  incomplete,  record  of  a  group  of  Union 
soldiers  who  served  their  Country  in  its  time  of  gravest  peril; 
and,  fully  sensible  of  how  much  he  stands  in  need  of  his  Comrades, 
and  the  reader's  indulgent  good  will  as  they  follow  him  in  this 
Memoir,  the  Editor  hopes  that  what  he  has  recorded  may,  here 
and  there,  throw  a  side  light  not  only  on  this  particular  Regiment, 
but  on  some  of  the  conditions  under  which  Union  soldiers  lived 
and  fought  during  those  stern,  fateful  years,  and  give  fresh 
emphasis  to  his  purity  of  motive  and  his  heroic  constancy. 
One  thing  is  certain:  no  where  in  the  book  can  denunciation  of 
"our  friends,  the  enemy"  be  found.  The  brave,  yet  misguided, 
troops  of  the  South  bowed  to  the  decree  of  Almighty  God  and  the 
valor  of  their  opponents  long  ago.  They,  like  us,  are  thankful 
that  today  the  sun  shines  on  a  reunited  Country.  Those  who 
wore  the  Gray,  like  those  who  wore  the  Blue,  may  not  forget 
that  the  best  of  our  life  and  work  lies  behind  us.  And,  O  how 
sadly!  do  we  who  are  still  here,  present  at  roll  call,  so  to  speak, 
think  of  those  of  our  Regiment  who  were  killed,  or  who  died  of 
wounds  or  diseases  received  while  in  the  service.  Duke  et 
decorum  est  pro  patria  mora.  Nameless  they  may  remain  on  the 


22  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

pages  of  History,  but  their  names,  whether  written  or  unwritten, 
will  everywhere  be  accepted  as  synonyms  of  bravery,  constancy, 
loyalty,  devotion  and  sacrifice. 

Unlike  those  who  followed  the  Southern  cross  of  the  Confed 
eracy — they  waged  a  wonderful  fight,  those  poorly  clothed, 
half-starved  heroes  in  Gray  whom  we  admired  as  we  fought 
them,  and  whose  courage  we  shall  never  forget — there  is  in  our 
hearts  no  double  loyalty  as  to  our  Colors,  as  to  the  Flag  we  fol 
lowed,  around  which  we  rallied,  which  we  enshrined  in  the  sacred 
soul  of  our  love,  which  we  never  let  fall  to  the  ground  in  defeat, 
and  which  we  honor  and  cherish  now  as  something  almost  holy, 
not  merely  as  the  emblem  of  a  heroic  epoch,  or  as  the  embodi 
ment  of  memories  that  will  be  tender  and  sweet  as  long  as  life 
shall  last,  but  as  the  American  Flag,  the  one  which  our  fore 
fathers  unfurled  to  the  breeze;  which  Washington  established 
in  triumph;  which  Barry  Bainbridge,  Jones,  and  Decatur,  on 
the  seas,  and  Jackson  at  New  Orleans,  upheld  in  1812;  which 
Scott  and  Taylor  and  Wool  carried  through  Mexico;  and  which, 
after  our  terrible  conflict  was  borne  by  Miles  and  Schafer. 
Schley  and  Sampson,  in  the  Spanish  W^ar. 

In  an  old  and  glorious  Country  across  the  Ocean  there  was 
once  a  brave  soldier,  La  Tour  d'Auvergne,  known  as  the  First 
Grenadier  of  the  French  Republic.  He  died  in  the  year  1800, 
but  his  name  is  still  carried  on  the  muster-roll  of  his  regiment, 
and  it  will  ever  be.  In  May,  1904,  an  urn  containing  the  heart 
of  that  Soldier  of  France  was  placed  under  the  dome  of  the 
Hotel  des  Invalides  at  Paris,  where  great  Napoleon  sleeps;  and 
while  this  was  being  done  the  garrison  flags  saluted,  arms  were 
presented  by  five  thousand  troops,  and  a  Captain  of  the  Forty- 
sixth  Regiment  of  the  Line,  in  accordance  with  the  old  formula, 
called  out  the  name,  "La  Tour  d'Auvergne!"  And  then,  after 
a  few  moments  of  solemn  silence  the  answer  came  in  clear  and 
ringing  tones  from  a  Sergeant : 

"Dead  on  the  Field  of  Honor." 

Survivors  of  Companies  A,  B,  C,  D,  E,  F,  H,  I,  and  K,  of  the 
Nineteenth  Illinois,  call  the  roll  of  your  companies,  and  bend 
low  over  the  names  which  may  be  followed  by  "Dead  on  the 
Field  of  Honor!"  If  ever  there  were  heroes  in  war,  then  were 
our  comrades  Heroes.  What  hardships  did  they  not  endure 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  23 

on  the  march,  in  the  bivouac,  in  the  trenches,  and  on  the  battle 
field!  What  sacrifices  did  they  not  willingly  make  for  a  cause 
dearer  than  life  itself!  What  danger  did  they  not  face  with 
unflinching  front!  Who  of  us  will  ever  forget  them  as  they, 
and  we,  followed  Turchin,  Scott,  Raff  en;  as  these,  our  Colonels, 
followed  Stanley  and  Stoughton,  Negley  and  Johnson,  who,  in 
turn,  led  them  and  us  close  to  Mitchel,  Buell,  Rosecrans,  and 
greatest  of  them  all,  George  H.  Thomas,  the  loyal  Virginian, 
the  valorous  Patriot,  the  one  unwhipped  Commanding  General 
on  both  sides  of  the  Civil  War! 

La  Colline,  1912.  J.  H.  H. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAGE 

FIRST  BLOW  OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR 27 

FIRST    CALL    FOR   VOLUNTEERS 29 

CHICAGO'S  QUICK  RESPONSE. 

A  REB  AND  YANK  MEET  AFTER  THE  WAR  .  38 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  27 


CHAPTER  I. 

The  first  blow  of  the  Civil  War  was  struck  in  January, 
1861.  On  the  ninth  of  that  month  an  armed  force  of  South 
Carolina  fired  upon  and  drove  from  Charleston  harbor  the 
steamer  Star  of  the  West,  which  the  National  Government  had 
sent  with  men  and  provisions  for  the  relief  of  Major  Robert 
Anderson,  who,  two  weeks  before,  believing  that  an  attack 
on  Fort  Moultrie,  which  he  was  then  occupying,  might  be 
expected  at  any  moment,  and  in  view  also  of  its  untenable 
condition,  spiked  the  cannon,  burned  the  gun-carriages,  and 
moved  his  small  force  to  unfinished  Fort  Sumter,  in  the 
same  harbor.  The  State  flag  of  South  Carolina  was  soon 
raised  on  Fort  Moultrie,  and  because  President  Buchanan 
would  not  punish  Anderson  for  this  movement,  Secretary  of 
War  Floyd  resigned  from  the  Cabinet. 

In  the  North  this  firing  upon  the  Star  of  the  West  attracted 
very  little  attention;  but  the  action  of  Major  Anderson  and 
the  resignation  of  Floyd  were  the  signal  for  rebellion  in  the 
South.  Before  February  several  States  seceded  from  the 
Union,  and  Texas  followed  on  the  first  of  that  month.  These 
States  united  as  the  Southern  Confederacy,  which  raised  its 
flag  over  Montgomery,  Alabama,  as  its  National  Capital, 
adopted  a  Constitution,  and  elected  Jefferson  Davis,  of  Mis 
sissippi,  as  President.  Meanwhile  the  day  of  Mr.  Lincoln's 
inauguration  as  President  of  the  United  States  of  North 
America  approached,  and,  on  Monday,  March  4,  1861,  the 
oath  of  office  was  administered  to  a  man  whom  some  of  us 
who  were  in  the  Nineteenth  knew  as  boys  at  Springfield,  Illi 
nois.  In  his  inaugural  speech  that  day  Mr.  Lincoln  said: 


28  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

"I  consider  that,  in  view  of  the  Constitution  and  the  laws, 
the  Union  is  unbroken;  and  to  the  extent  of  my  ability  I 
shall  take  care,  the  Constitution  itself  expressly  enjoins  it 
upon  me,  that  the  laws  of  the  Union  be  faithfully  executed 
in  all  the  States."  He  added  that  in  carrying  out  this  pur 
pose  there  was  no  need  of  violence  or  bloodshed,  nor  should 
there  be  any  unless  it  was  forced  upon  the  National  author 
ity. 

Brigadier  General  P.  G.  T.  Beauregard,  Louisiana  born, 
graduate  of  the  Military  Academy  at  West  Point, — he  was  a 
gallant  soldier  in  the  Mexican  War — was  the  man  who  then 
struck  the  Union  its  second  blow.  He  had  resigned  from  the 
United  States  Army,  already  held  high  rank  in  the  Confed 
eracy,  and  was  commanding  South  Carolina  troops  at 
Charleston.  To  his  demand  for  the  evacuation  of  Fort 
Sumter,  Major  Robert  Anderson — another  gallant  officer 
in  the  Mexican  War — replied  in  a  patriotic  negative;  there 
upon,  a  little  before  five  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  Friday, 
April  12,  1861,  Beauregard  opened  fire  on  Sumter.  The 
people  of  Charleston  hastened  to  the  shore  to  enjoy  the 
shameful  spectacle,  little  suspecting  the  sad  disaster  which 
it  presaged.*  The  firing  on  that  fort  lasted  all  day  and 
through  part  of  the  night.  On  the  thirteenth,  when  the 
buildings  in  Sumter  were  blazing  and  Anderson's  cannoneers 
could  no  longer  see  to  load  their  guns  because  of  the  thick 
smoke,  the  valorous  Commander,  after  a  final  salute  to  the 
American  Flag,  surrendered.  In  1865,  almost  precisely 
four  years  later,  after  a  prayer  by  the  very  Chaplain  who  four 
years  before  had  prayed  on  the  same  spot,  General  Anderson 

*The  First  Lesson  of  the  Sunday — the  third  after  Easter — which  followed  the  sur 
render  of  Fort  Sumter,  can  be  found  in  Joel  III:  "Proclaim  ye  this  among  the  Gentiles: 
prepare  war,  wake  the  mighty  men,  let  all  men  of  war  draw  near;  let  them  come  up. 
Beat  your  ploughshares  into  swords,  and  your  pruning  hooks  into  spears;  let  the  weak 
say,  I  am  strong.  " 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  29 

hoisted  upon  the  flag  staff  the  same  Stars  and  Stripes  that 
had  been  lowered  in  1861.* 

Seven  States  in  the  South  had  already  declared  them 
selves  out  of  the  Union;  the  property  of  the  United  States 
had  been  seized  and  appropriated;  and  now  that  South 
Carolina  had  actually  fired  upon  the  National  Flag,  four  more 
Southern  States  at  once  joined  the  Confederacy,  which  re 
moved  its  capital  to  Richmond,  Virginia.  Viewed  now 
through  the  backward  slanting  light  of  experience,  how 
futile  that  action  seems.  A  minority  of  States  less  densely 
populated  than  the  North  and  West,  with  an  alien  race 
dwelling  among  them,  a  race  that  might  be  a  non-combatant 
burden  or  a  foe  within  the  breastworks;  with  no  arsenal,  no 
munitions  of  war,  and  not  a  Corporal's  guard  for  a  standing 
army,  there  seemed  no  possibility  of,  scarcely  a  hope  for, 
success  against  the  organized  Government  which  held  the 
treasury,  the  army,  and  all  the  resources  and  facilities  of  war. 

The  news  of  Fort  Sumter  soon  reached  Washington,  and 
thence  spread  out  to  electrify  the  North,  which,  until  then, 
had  not  wished  for  war,  but  seemingly  desired  some  sort  of  a 
compromise.  But  now  the  time  for  compromise  was  past. 
Now  that  the  South  had  begun  it,  a  willingness  to  fight  was 
manifested  throughout  the  North  and  West,  and  the  cry  of 
War,  not  that  of  Peace,  was  heard,  even  though  we  were 
but  little  prepared  for  one.  On  the  fifteenth  of  April  Pres 
ident  Lincoln  issued  his  first  call,  on  all  the  Slales,  for  75,000 
volunteers  for  three  months,  and  that  appeal  was  printed 
in  the  newspapers  of  the  Country  that  same  day.  Not  a 
single  State  which  had  seceded  from  the  Union  acknowledged 
his  summon,  nor  did  any  troops  come  from  the  border 

*Charleston  was  surrendered  back  to  the  Union  forces  February  18th,  and  in  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  churches  of  that  "cradle  of  secession"  on  the  succeeding  Sunday 
the  clergymen  had  to  face  as  their  First  Lesson  (Quinquagesima)  the  first  chapter  of 
Lamentations,  beginning,  "How  doth  the  city  sit  solitary  that  was  full  of  people!  She 
that  was  great  among  the  Nations,  and  princess  among  provinces,  how  is  she 
become  tributary," 


30  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

States.  But  from  the  free  States  of  the  North  an  army  of 
men  sprang  up  and  of  this  number  were  four  Chicago 
companies  of  infantry  which  were  afterward  in  the  Nine 
teenth  Illinois.  One  of  these  (Company  D)  was  the  very 
first  company  raised  in  that  already  great  city,  although 
another  (Company  E)  had,  through  its  then  Captain,  John 
Me  Arthur,  (afterward  a  Major  General)  offered  its  services, 
in  case  of  war,  to  the  Governor  of  Illinois  as  early  as  Jan 
uary  previously.  As  illustrating  the  swift  and  patriotic 
impulses  of  that  memorable  day  the  following  account  of 
how  he  happened  to  volunteer,  by  a  still  living  member  of 
the  Regiment,  is  herewith  presented. 

It  was  a  bright  sunshiny  morning,  the  fifteenth  of  April, 
1861.  Breakfast  in  a  Chicago  home  on  the  West  Side  was 
nearly  ended  when  the  head  of  the  house,  an  eminent  lawyer, 
who  had  been  reading  the  President's  Proclamation  aloud 
from  his  newspaper,  spoke  to  his  son  and  the  latter's  cousin 
—neither  of  them  yet  nineteen  years  of  age — and  he  said: 

"Well,  young  gentlemen,  what  do  you  think  about  this 
grave  issue?" 

Without  giving  any  definite  answer,  they  rose  from  the 
table,  left  the  house  and  started  for  their  respective  places 
of  employment  over  on  the  South  Side;  and,  though  it  had 
been  their  custom  to  take  a  Madison  street  horse-car,  they 
walked  the  entire  distance,  saying  very  little  to  each  other 
on  the  way,  however.  Arrived  at  Clark  Street  they  sepa 
rated,  one  to  go  to  his  desk  in  the  County  Clerk's  office  in 
the  old  Court  House,  the  other  to  the  Judge's  chambers, 
where  he  had  some  routine  things  to  do  before  beginning  his 
morning  study  of  certain  law  books.  But  hardly  had  the 
latter  entered  the  rooms  when  he  heard  the  sound  of  a  fife 
and  drum  close  by,  and  with  that  sound  came  an  echo  of  the 
question,  "Well,  young  gentlemen,  what  do  you  think  about 
this  grave  issue?" 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  31 

Immediately  there  arose  several  other  questions  in  his 
mind.  What  was  he  going  to  do  about  the  needs  of  his 
Country's  Government?  How  might  he  help  that  good  man 
from  his  own  native  State,  now  in  the  Presidential  Chair 
at  Washington?  What  was  he  ready  to  do  for  the  imperilled 
Nation?  Then  he  saw  his  own  father  at  Mr.  Lincoln's  side 
as  a  Volunteer  from  Kentucky  in  the  Black  Hawk  War;  and 
he  also  saw  that  father  volunteering  to  help  his  Country 
in  her  war  with  Mexico;  and  he  remembered,  too,  the  old 
cocked  hat,  the  regimentals,  and  the  Continental  money  at 
home,  heirlooms  in  a  family  where  paternal  and  maternal 
forebears  had  fought  in  the  war  of  Independence  against 
King  George!  The  sound  of  that  fife  and  drum  was  mean 
while  ringing  loudly  in  his  ears,  and  the  notes  seemed  like 
the  voice  of  one  standing  at  a  threatened  post  calling,  "Help ! 
help!"  across  the  hills  and  the  plains  between  the  Potomac 
and  Lake  Michigan. 

It  was  then  that  that  young  man,  hardly  more  than  a 
boy,  saw  his  duty  clearly  and  he  acted  promptly.  In  his 
veins  coursed  the  blood  of  generations  of  loyal  Americans, 
patriots  who  had  been  ready  to  serve  their  Country  when 
ever  that  Country  called,  ever  since  the  first  of  his  name  had 
come  to  Virginia  in  1649.  The  law  books  were  left  untouched, 
and  down  to  the  street  the  young  man  hastened.  The 
fife  and  drum  were  just  around  the  corner,  in  Dearborn 
Street.  An  empty  store  had  been  hastily  turned  into  a  re 
cruiting  office ;  and  therein,  on  a  large  roll  he  wrote  his  name, 
the  eighth  on  a  list  which  soon  numbered  over  a  hundred, 
and  it  was  the  first  Company  of  Volunteers  raised  in  Chicago 
at  the  breaking  out  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  In  the 
Chicago  Tribune  of  April  22,  1861,  one  may  read:  "At  the 
theatre  on  Saturday  evening  J.  H.  McVicker  presented  to 
Captain  Fred  Harding'  s  Company  an  elegant  silk  flag 
bearing  the  motto,  "Retaliation— no  mercy  to  traitors!' 


32  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

This  fulfills  the  generous  manager's  pledge  to  the  first  Com 
pany  filled  up  and  received."  That  organization  which 
Captain  Harding  so  promptly  raised  became  Company  D 
in  the  Nineteenth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry  when  it  was 
mustered  in  for  three  years  of  service,  although  it  (the  Com 
pany)  saw  field  service  before  that  date.  As  for  the  other 
"young  gentleman/'*  he,  too,  em  oiled  his  name  that  same 
day,  in  what  was  then  known  as"  Barker's  Dragoons." 
In  due  course  of  time  his  Company  became  a  part  of  the 
Eight  Illinois  Cavalry,  one  of  the  most  famous  organiza 
tions  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  After  the  War,  he  was 
commissioned  as  Second  Lieutenant,  into  the  Regular 
Army;**  he  served  with  distinction  and  marked  ability, 
rising  through  all  the  intermediate  grades  to  the  rank  of 
Brigadier  General,  and  was  finally  retired  as  such  by  reason 
of  age  limit. 

So  it  was  with  thousands  of  other  young  men  and  boys, 
native  born  for  most  part,  though  some  were  from  foreign 
lands,  in  Illinois  that  fifteenth  day  of  April,  1861.  And  it 
was  especially  so  with  many  of  those  whose  deeds  are  chror- 
icled  in  these  pages.  They  were  loyal,  patriotic,  eager  to 
do  everything  possible  to  support  the  Government  and 
defend  the  Flag;  and  it  was  thus  that  Companies  A,  D,  E, 
and  K,  of  the  Nineteenth  originally  sprang  into  existence. 
The  other  companies  in  the  Regiment  were  none  the  less 
faithful  in  their  service  of  more  than  three  years,  and  it  is 
with  those  days  of  stern  war  that  this  volume  deals.  Look 
ing  back  on  them  after  these  fifty  years  and  more,  the  sur 
vivors  can  soberly  say  that  in  the  vigor  of  their  youth  they 
were  glad  to  loyally  serve  their  Country,  and  now,  in  their 
old  age,  they  have  no  regrets  whatever  for  what  they  then 
did;  on  the  contrary,  we  are  proud,  we  feel  uplifted  in  spirit, 

*Brigadier  General  Louis  Henry  Rucker. 
**Like  our  own  Lieutenant  Quinton. 


-    -     B 


'  ff.p  o 

GOp  rt   5; 


MC3-     -       M    UU  m    CP   4 


B-a       CT   c 

^  O  ffi  CB  B 


. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  33 

we  are  conscious  of  our  standing  in  our  respective  communi 
ties,  and  we  fully  realize  now,  "in  years  that  bring  the 
philosophic  mind/'  all  that  the  Union  soldiers  and  sailors  of 
the  Civil  War  accomplished.  "  Tis  an  old  tale  and  often 
told,"  but  we  are  impelled  to  once  more  tell  the  story,  even 
though,  musing  on  Comrades  gone,  we  doubly  feel  ourselves 
alone. 

The  true  beginning  of  this  history  is  to  insist  that  in 
those  first  days  of  war  the  officers,  non-commissioned  and 
privates,  were  alike  energetic,  intelligent,  companionable 
beings,  and  our  early  impressions  of  army  life  are  far  from 
disagreeable.  It  is  true  that  during  the  first  few  weeks  and 
months  it  was  seemingly  a  continuous  guard-mount;  a  never 
ending  drill,  drill,  until  we  fairly  groaned  when  we  heard  the 
sharp  command,  "Fall  in  for  drill!"  To  some,  perhaps  to 
many,  it  appeared  that  altogether  too  much  energy  and 
gray  matter  was  being  wasted  on  the  mere  ornamental 
parts  of  the  Manual — our  wheelings  and  facings,  our  holding- 
guns  in  all  sorts  of  positions,  our  dress  parades  and  frequent 
reviews,  our  inspections— all  these  multiple  things,  either 
as  an  exercise  or  as  a  duty,  came  to  be  rather  tiresome,  to 
some  at  least,  a  Ithough  there  was  never  any  serious  complain 
ing.  But  skirmishes  plentiful  soon  became  our  portion, 
and  while  most  of  these  were  so  little  they  hardly  counted, 
yet  were  they  of  incalculable  value  when  the  time  came  for 
us  to  show  the  manner  of  soldiers  the  Nineteenth  consisted 
of. 

With  all  this  marching  and  counter-marching,  this 
"left,  left,  left," — hayfoot,  strawfoot,  now  you've  got  it, 
keep  it— this  "right  shoulder  shift,"  this  "to  the  rear, 
march!"  this  "unswing  knapsacks,"  this  "parade,  rest!"  this 
"attention,"  this  "present  arms,"  this  "dress  up  on  the 
right,"  this  "eyes  to  the  front,"  this  "touch  elbows,"  this 
"front  rank  forward,"  this  "fix  bayonets,"  this  "stack 


34  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

arms,"  this  "take  muskets,"  this  that  and  the  other  hundred 
details  in  the  Manual,  life  may  have  seemed  something  of  a 
burden  then;  but,  later  on,  when  the  Regiment  was  in  camp 
at  Elizabethtown,  and  in  camp  at  Nashville,  with  thousands 
of  soldiers  from  other  regiments  looking  on  in  wondering 
recognition  of  the  Nineteenth's  great  skill  and  ability  in 
the  Manual  of  Arms  and  in  batallion  exercises,  we  were 
more  than  repaid  for  all  those  weary  hours  and  days  of  drill. 
It  was  indeed  a  good  thing  for  us  to  know,  as  we  did  in  the 
course  of  human  events,  that  ours  was  the  best  drilled  regiment 
in  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  which  is  to  say,  the  best  in 
all  the  Northern  armies.  And  meanwhile  we  were  also 
learning  a  thing  or  two  apart  from  military  evolutions  which 
we  still  remember.  We  early  discovered  that  army  service 
was  a  great  leveller  of  class  distinctions.  Where  all  alike 
had  to  perform  duties — digging  trenches,  cleaning  camp, 
building  fortifications,  keeping  muskets  in  order,  doing 
laborers'  work  at  the  Commissary's  or  at  the  Quartermas 
ter's  request,  pitching  tents  for  officers,  calling  some  chap 
we  once  knew  only  as  "Pete,"  or  as  "Dave,"  by  his  rank 
title,  scrambling  out  of  bed  at  an  unreasonable  hour  in  the 
morning  merely  because  a  hard-hearted  Orderly  Sergeant 
expected  it  of  us,  washing  our  own  shirts  and  socks — that 
is  whenever  they  happened  to  undergo  such  a  surprising 
process — these  and  many  another  "circumstance  of  war" 
knocked  social  standing  skywards,  and  woe  unto  the  "dough 
boy"  who  failed  to  find  this  out  early  in  his  life  as  a  soldier. 
Fortunately  our  Company  commanders  were  not  only  intel 
ligent  but  they  were  human  beings,  even  though  gifted  with 
the  desire  to  hurl  the  Manual  at  us  on  every  possible  occa 
sion.  Tradition  ran  in  GUIS  that  once  a  Captain  of  a  certain 
Company,  finding  his  manoeuvres  had  brought  his  com 
mand  "up  against"  a  rail  fence,  and  not  knowing  just  how 
to  overcome  that  difficulty,  "according  to  Upton,"  gave  the 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  35 

order  to  break  ranks  and  to  fall  in  again  on  the  other  side  of 
the  obstacle.  The  story  may  have  been  apochryphal;  but 
it  certainly  was  not  in  the  Nineteenth  that  a  Major,  literally 
following  instructions  as  printed  in  the  book,  sang  out  to 
his  part  of  the  batalion,  -"Right  or  left  oblique  (as  the  case 
may  be),  march!" 

It  would  be  impossible  to  relate  in  detail  in  a  single 
volume  all  the  history  of  our  Regiment  and  its  campaigns, 
but  we  may  safely  refer  to  the  changes  in  character  that 
came  with  our  prolonged  experiences.  Once  we  had  had  our 
first  battle  the  value  of  life  became  less  regarded.  Death 
came  to  be  so  common  among  us  that  we  thought  lightly 
of  it,  if  we  thought  of  it  at  all.  There  was,  of  course,  a  pang 
when  this  or  that  Comrade  was  reported  killed,  or  danger 
ously  wounded,  but  the  impression  did  not  last  long.  What 
difference  who  went  first  or  who  later?  although,  after  a  year 
or  two  of  experience  in  real  war,  we  naturally  took  care  not 
to  expose  ourselves  over-rashly.  This  carefulness  was  some 
times  mistaken  by  the  new  recruits  for  timidity,  so  that 
occasionally  something  like  a  contemptuous  smile  might  be 
seen  on  the  face  of  a  "Johnny  Fresh"  who  had  hardly  yet 
seen  a  gun,  much  less  fired  one  at  the  enemy.  Doubtless, 
too,  there  were  occasions  when  some  few  would  have  been 
glad  to  be  far  away  from  the  terrible  scenes  we  were  forced 
to  witness,  but  this  was  rather  a  fleeting  impulse  than  a  deep 
conviction,  and  amounted  to  nothing  so  far  as  the  offender's 
value  as  "food  for  gunpowder"  was  concerned. 

And  the  more  we  became  finished  soldiers  the  more  we 
learned  how  to  disregard  the  rights  of  property.  Fences, 
barn-doors,  clap-boards  from  out-houses,  field-crops,  horses 
—all  were  "jerked,"  that  is  to  say,  taken,  not  because  they 
"interfered  with  military  operations,"  but  because  they 
were  useful  in  camp.  We  were  generally  hungry,  and  when 
haversacks  were  empty  why  fail  to  search  for  "rebel"  bacon, 


36  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

or  for  "secesh"  hens!  True,  these  were  sometimes  paid  for, 
but  not  when  it  could  be  helped,  or  if  the  offender  was  a 
clever  soldier.  But  if  it  is  true  that  the  moral  sense  of  some 
may  have  thus  been  slightly  blunted,  there  is  one  thing 
which  we  can  rightfully  boast  of,  and  it  is,  never  was  there 
a  braver  or  a  more  courageous  lot  of  men  than  those  in  the 
Nineteenth  Illinois.  We  held  the  virtue  of  bravery  in  far 
greater  esteem  than  civilians  do;  and  we  respected  the 
quality  of  courage  as  much  in  the  boys  in  Gray  as  we  did  in 
the  boys  in  Blue.  And,  in  due  course,  we  came  to  know 
that  there  are  three  heroic  virtues — Bravery,  Courage,  and 
Valor — to  be  taken  into  consideration. 

There  is  a  marked  difference  in  these  three  virtues. 
Bravery  is  not  a  quality  which  may  be  acquired;  we  either 
have  it  at  our  birth,  or  we  shall  never  have  it.  The  quality 
of  Bravery  and  Courage  are  not  the  same.  Courage  is  a 
quality  essential  to  men  of  keen  feeling,  and  especially  to 
superior  or  commanding  officers,  while  bravery  is  more  neces 
sary  to  the  soldier.  Bravery  lies  in  the  blood;  Courage  in 
the  soul.  Bravery  is  a  species  of  instinct;  Courage  is  a 
genuine  virtue.  The  one  is  largely  a  mechanical  movement, 
the  other  a  noble  action.  Bravery  shows  itself  at  certain 
periods  and  in  certain  circumstances,  yet  cannot  always  be 
depended  on;  Courage  is  ready  at  all  times  and  on  every 
occasion.  Bravery  is  always  thoughtlessly  impetuous,  and 
it  attracts  the  admiration  of  oil-lookers,  or  of  those  who  read 
—but  the  more  Courage  reflects,  the  more  intrepid  it  is, 
and  the  result  more  sure.  The  impulse  of  example,  the  blind 
ness  arising  from  common  danger,  the  heat  of  battle,  inspire 
Bravery;  zeal  for  the  cause  at  stake,  for  the  State  in  danger, 
a  consciousness  of  duty,  and  an  honest  willingness  to  count 
the  cost,  animate  and  awaken  Courage.  In  short,  Bravery 
may  be  essential  in  action,  but  Courage  certainly  is  so 
through  the  whole  progress  of  a  campaign.  Courage  is  not 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  37 

inaccessible  to  fear,  but  overcomes  it;  Bravery  is  afraid  of 
nothing,  yet  no  man  is  always  brave.  It  is  the  union  of 
Bravery  and  Courage  which  constitutes  Valor;  and  the  true 
motives  of  Valor  are,  or  ought  to  be,  the  love  of  one's  whole 
duty,  the  ever-living  desire  and  the  determination  to  do 
absolutely  the  right  thing  in  the  interest  of  a  cause  and  of 
one's  Country.  It  was  this  wonderful  combination  of 
Bravery  and  Courage,  this  ever-living  desire  and  determi 
nation  to  always  do  the  right  thing  at  the  precise  moment, 
in  the  interest  of  his  cause  and  his  Country  which  stamps 
George  H.  Thomas  as  one  of  the  most  valorous  soldiers 
that  ever  lived,  either  in  ancient  or  modern  times. 

In  many  ways  " Knighthood  was  in  Flower"  during  our 
long  war.  The  late  GeneralJohn  B.  Gordon,  one  of  the  no 
blest  officers  that  ever  carried  a  sword,  although  he  was  a 
Confederate,  used  to  tell  a  story  which  confirms  our  state 
ment.  In  October,  1863,  after  Chickamauga,  when  Long- 
street's  forces  were  investing  the  city  of  Knoxville,  Ten 
nessee,  there  occurred  an  incident  equally  honorable  to  the 
sentiment  and  the  spirit  of  "Billy  Yank"  and  "  Johnny  Reb." 
The  Confederates  had  made  a  bold  assault  upon  the  fort 
and  succeeded  in  reaching  it  through  a  galling  fire;  they  at 
tempted  to  rush  up  its  sides,  but  were  beaten  back  by  the 
Union  boys  who  held  it.  Then,  in  the  deep  ditch  surround 
ing  the  fort  and  its  immediate  base,  the  " Johnnies"  took 
their  position.  They  could  not  retreat,  except  at  a  great 
sacrifice  of  life,  but  they  could  not  get  into  the  fortress. 
The  sun  poured  its  withering  rays  upon  them  and  they  were 
famishing  with  thirst.  A  bold  and  self-sacrificing  young 
Southern  soldier  offered  to  take  his  life  in  his  hands  and 
canteens  on  his  back  and  attempt  to  bring  water  to  his 
fainting  comrades.  He  made  the  dash  for  life  and  water, 
and  was  unhurt;  but  the  return— how  was  that  to  be  ac 
complished?  Laden  with  the  filled  and  heavy  canteens 


38  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

he  approached  within  range  of  the  rifles  in  the  fort,  then 
looked  anxiously  across  the  intervening  space.  He  was 
fully  alive  to  the  fact  that  the  chances  were  all  against  him; 
but,  determined  to  relieve  his  suffering  comrades  or  die  in 
the  effort,  he  started  on  his  perilous  run  for  the  ditch  at  the 
foot  of  the  fort.  The  Union  soldiers  stood  upon  the  parapet 
with  their  rifles  in  hand.  As  they  saw  this  daring  American 
youth  coming,  with  his  life  easily  at  their  disposal,  they  stood 
silently  contemplating  him  for  a  few  moments.  Then,  then 
fired  at  him  a  tremendous  volley — not  of  deadly  bullets  from 
their  guns,  but  of  enthusiastic  hurrahs  from  their  throats— 
the  compliments  and  congratulations  of  heroes  to  a  hero; 
the  sweet  civility  of  life  in  time  of  strife ;  and  if  the  annals  of 
war  record  any  incident  between  hostile  armies  which  em 
bodies  a  more  beautiful  and  touching  tribute  by  the  brave 
to  the  brave,  we  know  it  not. 

#  9|C  #  *  *  * 

More  than  three  decades  after  the  close  of  the  strife  a 
Northern  gentleman,  driving  with  his  wife  through  some 
fertile  lands  in  Central  Georgia,  stopped  his  horse  at  a  road 
side  spring,  where  already  stood  a  pair  of  yoked  oxen  in 
charge  of  a  rugged  looking  farmer,  apparently  the  other's 
elder  by  a  few  months  only.  An  attempt  at  conversation 
was  made  by  the  newcomer,  but  he  was  answered  rather 
shortly,  as  though  the  tiller  of  the  soil  did  not  care  to  be 
patronized  by  any  one  who  could  go  gadding  about  the  coun 
try  in  a  livery  rig.  The  day  was  growing  warm,  so  the 
Northerner  threw  off  his  top  coat  before  proceeding  on  his 
way,  thus  displaying  a  little  round  bit  of  bronze  in  the  left 
lapel  of  his  driving  jacket.  The  native  recognized  this 
emblem. 

"I  see  you  was  in  the  wah!"  he  exclaimed,  as  he  left  the 
cattle  to  roam  at  will. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  39 

"Yes,  indeedy,"  answered  the  first,  cheerfully.  "Were 
you  in  it  too?" 

"Yep!"  ("Whoa  there,  you  derned  ole  fools!"— this  to 
his  oxen.)  "Git  through  it  all  right?" 

"Not  much.  .  I  was  pretty  nearly  done  for  in  the  Battle 
of  Resaca — through  the  side,  close  to  the  heart,  you  know." 

"Well,  well!  Resaca!  Why,  that's  where  I  got  it  in 
the  shoulder."  The  two  men  began  to  regard  each  other 
more  kindly.  My  lady  in  the  buggy  was  already  reaching 
for  her  traveling  bag.  Her  husband  jumped  out  of  the 
vehicle;  they  approached  each  other. 

"Your  regiment  was — 

"The  Forty-third  Georgia;  an'  your'n?" 

"Nineteenth  Illinois.  Do  you  mind  my  taking  you  by 
the  hand,  Sir?" 

"Just  what  I  was  agoin'  to  ask  you,  Sir.  I'm  right 
proud  to  meet  you  again,  Sir," — this  with  a  broad  smile 
on  his  honest  face. 

"Not  one  bit  more  than  I  am  to  meet  you  again,  Sir. 
Funny,  isn't  it — our  regiments  fighting  each  other  to  kill 
and  destroy  in  that  big  fight  of  long  ago,  and  now  here  we 
are  shaking  hands,  like  lost  friends,  on  a  Georgia  roadside." 

The  lady  in  the  buggy  leaned  forward:  "As  the  Gov 
ernor  of  North  Carolina  said  to  the  Governor  of  South 
Carolina!"  she  gently  remarked,  handing  over  a  flask. 
The  veterans  carried  it  to  the  spring  and  there  they  drank, 
"To  those  who  fell!"  and  as  they  "smiled"  they  both  thought 
of  the  rattle  of  musketry  and  the  roar  of  cannon;  of  the 
plump  of  solid  shot  burying  itself  in  solid  earth,  or  in  loud 
compact  against  a  tree;  of  the  shrieking,  whistling  shells 
"bursting  in  air;"  of  sharp,  sudden  gasps,  followed  by  suf 
fering  groans;  of  the  agonizing  neighing  of  hit  horses;  of 
enthusiastic  lines  dashing  across  the  field,  one  side  all 
cheers,  the  other  all  quiet;  of  the  shouts  of  officers,  the  shine 


40  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

of  bayonets,  and  then,  for  themselves — oblivion.  Once  more 
the  two  strangers  shook  hands. 

After  supper  that  evening  the  Georgia  farmer  said  to  his 
wife:  "Ma,  that  Yank  I  met  'safternoon,  up  yonder  by  the 
big  spring,  is  the  one  who  tried  to  kill  me  at  Reseca."  She 
looked  at  him  in  a  peculiar  way.  "Well,  well!  I  s'pose 
we'll  have  to  give  the  body  decent  burial  some  time  ter- 
morrer."  He  reached  over,  grabbed  her  by  the  arm,  and 
pulled  her  down  upon  his  lap.  She  kissed  his  sun-tanned 
and  wrinkled  face,  then  she  said: 

"Ain't  you  ole  fellers  ever  goin'  to  stop  bein'  foolish  boys 
when  you  happen  to  meet  somebody  thet  was  in  yo'  ole  wah?" 


CHAPTER  II. 

PAGE 

RECRUITING       43 

PRESIDENT'S  CALL  FOR  VOLUNTEERS 44 

ILLINOIS'  QUICK  RESPONSE. 

THE  FIRST  COMPANIES  UNDER  ARMS  IN  RESPONSE 

TO  CALL — EXPEDITION  TO  CAIRO,  ILL 45 

ROSTER  or  FIRST  COMPANIES  UNDER  ARMS  FOR  THE 

UNION  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES 47 

OFF  FOR  CAIRO 54 

REUNION  AT  CHICAGO  AFTER  FIFTY  YEARS  .  58 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  43 


CHAPTER  II. 

Fifty-one  years  ago!  It  seems  almost  like  a  dream  to 
those  of  us  still  living  who  responded  to  President  Lincoln's 
first  call  for  volunteers  to  protect  the  Government,  maintain 
the  laws,  and  preserve  the  Union.  Aye,  very  like  a  dream, 
the  quickly-opened  recruiting  rooms;  the  assemblages  of 
determined  men  ready  to  do  all  in  their  power  for  the  threat 
ened  Nation;  the  acceptance  of  companies  and  then  the  part 
ing  with  mothers  who  once  held  us  in  their  arms  while  giving  us 
of  their  souls  and  bodies  that  we  might  increase  in  size  and 
strength;  the  hearty  hand-clasps  of  fathers  with  dimmed 
eyes  saying,  "So  long,  son:  take  care  of  yourself;"  the  kisses 
and  tears,  tears  and  kisses,  as  the  enthusiasm  of  Loyalty 
and  Patriotism  wielded  the  actions  of  thousands  on  thousands 
all  over  the  North,  helpfully  standing  by  U01d  Abe"  in  his 
time  of  great  need;  some  stopping  for  a  few  moments  to  em 
brace  weeping  wives  as  well  as  mothers,  weeping  sweethearts 
as  well  as  sisters;  and  to  some  came  the  saddest  parting  of 
all,  that  of  leaving  the  new  born  babe,  the  first  born,  which 
might  never  be  seen  again. 

But  it  is  far  from  being  a  dream;  it  was  stern  reality. 
We  did  hasten  from  home  and  loved  ones  to  where  shells 
and  cannister,  bullets  and  bayonets,  miasmatic  waters  and 
lack  of  proper  food,  the  innumerable  diseases  of  camp  life 
as  well  as  the  multiple  dangers  of  grim  war,  were  to  be  our 
portion  for  months  and  years  to  come ;  yet  do  those  who  are 
still  here  proudly  say  that  they  are  glad  to  have  been  Union 
soldiers  and  defenders  of  the  Country  in  its  period  of  grave 
peril.  And  we  cannot  but  be  forever  grateful  because, 


44  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

while  we  lay  in  hospitals  of  pain,  or  strode  along  on  weary 
marches,  or  as  we  stood  guard  in  wild  storms,  or  as  we  strug 
gled  with  the  enemy  in  many  a  deadly  combat,  or  waited, 
wounded  on  battlefields,  for  comrades  bearing  stretchers  to 
bring  us  to  those  dear  creatures,  the  army  Nurses,  who  al 
ways  cared  for  us  so  tenderly  and  patiently,  because,  back 
at  home,  up  in  a  land  we  ever  spoke  of  as  "God's  Country," 
there  were  women  and  men,  sisters  and  brothers,  friends 
and  fellow  citizens,  thinking  of  us,  believing  in  us,  glorify 
ing  us  while  we  were  in  ravines  running  with  blood,  in  fur 
rows  of  old  fields  where,  amidst  the  ripening  grain,  the  foe 
awaited  our  approach,  quite  willing  to  maim  us,  tear  us, 
destroy  us  if  possible.  And  as  those  at  home  were  thinking 
of,  weeping  over,  and  praying  for  the  loved  husband,  the 
adored  son,  the  admired  brother,  the  trusted  sweetheart, 
many  of  these — oh,  so  many! — were  sleeping  under  the  pines 
and  hemlocks,  the  oaks  and  tangled  bushes,  or  in  the  swamps 
of  creeks  and  rivers,  their  service  ended,  their  precious 
young  lives  given  to  the  Union  they  had  solemnly  sworn  to 
defend,  but  powerless  now  to  do  more  for  "Father  Abraham" 
and  the  Nation  he  so  nobly  stood  for  in  those  days  of  half 
a  century  and  more  ago. 

On  the  fifteenth  of  April,  1861,  Mr.  Lincoln's  Proclama 
tion  was  made  known  to  all  the  world.  "Whereas,  The  laws 
of  the  United  States  have  been  and  are  opposed  in  several 
States  by  combinations  too  powerful  to  be  suppressed  in  the 
ordinary  way,  I  therefore  call  for  the  Militia  of  the  several 
States  of  the  Union,  to  the  aggregate  number  of  75,000," 
and  so  on.  Having  received  this  official  paper,  on  that 
date  Richard  Yates,  Governor  of  Illinois,  convened  the 
Legislature  of  our  State  in  session  of  General  Assembly  to 
enact  such  laws  and  adopt  such  measures  as  might  be  deemed 
necessary  under  the  circumstances;  and  on  that  same  day  he, 
as  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Illinois  Militia,  issued  Gen- 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  45 

eral  Orders  No.  1,  ordering  the  commandants  of  the  several 
divisions,  brigades,  regiments,  and  independent  companies 
of  the  State,  "in  view  of  the  present  dangers  menacing  the 
Government,"  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness  for  actual 
service.  A  circular  from  the  Secretary  of  War,  of  the  same 
date,  assigned  the  quota  of  Illinois  as  4,683  officers  and  men; 
within  a  week  more  than  the  State's  full  quota,  plus  some 
seven  thousand  volunteers,  was  in  camp  -at  Springfield,  and 
meanwhile  quite  a  number  of  those  who  afterward  filled  the 
ranks  of  the  Nineteenth  were  on  our  way  to  the  front,  willing 
and  determined  to  deserve  the  confidence  placed  in  us  by 
President  and  Governor. 

The  nineteenth  of  April,  Secretary  of  War  Cameron 
wired  Governor  Yates:  "As  soon  as  enough  of  your  troops 
is  mustered  into  service,  send  a  Brigadier  General,  with 
four  regiments,  to  or  near  Cairo."  Thereupon  his  Excel 
lency  wired  to  Brigadier  General  R.  K.  Swift*  at  Chicago : 
"As  quick  as  possible  have  as  strong  a  force  as  you  can 
raise,  armed  and  equipped  with  ammunition  and  accoutre 
ments,  and  a  company  of  artillery,  ready  to  march  at  a 
moment's  warning."  Forty-eight  hours  after  this  dispatch 
was  delivered  we  were  on  our  way  to  Cairo,  over  three 
hundred  miles  distant  from  Chicago.  That  Sunday  evening, 
the  twenty-first  of  April,  1861,  General  Swift's  force  of  595 
men  and  four  six-pounder  pieces  of  artillery,  consisted  of 
Company  A,  Chicago  Zouaves,  Captain  James  R.  Hayden 
commanding;  Company  B,  Chicago  Zouaves,  Captain  John 
H.  Clybourne  commanding;  Chicago  Light  Infantry  Com 
pany,  Captain  Frederick  Harding  commanding;  Turner 

^General  R.  K.  Swift  was  elected,  then  commissioned  Brigadier  General  of  the 
Illinois  State  Militia  by  Govenor  W.  H.  Bissell  in  March,  1857.  He  aided  Ellsworth 
and  bcott  in  organizing  the  famous  company  of  Zouaves,  and  its  successful  trip 
through  the  Eastern  cities  was  planned  in  his  residence.  He  was  one  of  Chicago's 
early  and  respected  settlers;  he  died  at  his  home  in  Lawrence  County,  Missouri 
feeptember  28,  1883,  in  the  seventieth  year  of  his  age. 


46  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

Union  Cadets,*  Captain  Gustav  Kowald  commanding; 
Lincoln  Rifles,  Captain  Geza  Mihalotzy  commanding; 
Chicago  Light  Artillery,  Captain  James  Smith  commanding. 
Of  these  organizations,  three — those  of  Captains  Harding, 
Hay  den  and  Clybourne — became  companies  in  the  Nine 
teenth  Illinois;  while  a  fourth  company,  the  Highland  Guard, 
ready  at  the  same  date — indeed  it  had  offered  its  services, 
in  case  of  need,  to  the  Governor  three  months  previously— 
was,  after  two  or  three  days  delay  in  Chicago  doing  guard 
duty  at  the  Armory,  was  ordered  to  Springfield,  and  after 
ward  mustered  in  as  Company  E  of  our  Regiment.  It  not 
only  looms  large  in  the  history  of  the  Nineteenth,  but  its 
Captain,  Alexander  W.  Raffen,  became  Lieutenant  Colonel 
of  ours,  and  held  that  command  in  many  an  important 
action. 

The  necessity  of  an  early  occupation  of  Cairo,  Illinois, 
cannot  be  overestimated.  The  town  itself  was  hardly  moie 
than  a  forlorn  little  settlement  at  the  extreme  south  end  of 
the  State,  but  the  military  importance  of  its  position  is  seen 
at  a  glance.  The  saffron  watercourse  of  the  Mississippi 
River,  once  the  Western  boundary  of  the  United  States, 
became,  after  the  Louisiana  purchase,  the  common  highway 
for  both  North  and  South.  As  for  its  tributary,  the  Ohio 
River,  longest  owned  and  longest  settled  by  our  English 
speaking  race,  it  flowed  for  nearly  a  thousand  miles  as  the 
boundary  in  chief  between  slave  and  free  States,  and  was 
studded  on  either  bank  with  thriving  towns  and  cities  en 
gaged  in  friendly  trade.  The  confluence  of  these  two  great 
streams  made  Cairo,  therefore,  a  point  of  prime  consequence 
to  the  Union  cause.  Just  across  these  rivers  lay  Kentucky 
on  the  South,  and  Missouri  on  the  West,  and  both  were  then 

*This  company  afterward  became  the  nucleus  of  Company  G,  Twenty-fourth  Illi 
nois  Infantry;  while  the  Linclon  Rifles  was  also  swallowed  up  in  that  regiment,  and  its 
Captain,  Geza  Mihalotzy,  rose  to  the  rank  of  Colonel.  The  24th  and  the  19th  were 
closely  allied  in  war,  and  their  members  have  been  warm  friends  ever  since. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  47 

controlled  by  disloyal  men.  By  taking  possession  of  Cairo 
the  Government  was  enabled  to  prevent  a  traffic  with  the 
rebellious  States  in  contraband  property;  and  as  three  of 
our  companies  were  in  that  expedition  the  time  has  arrived 
to  give  their  Rosters,  as  follows: 

CHICAGO  ZOUAVES— COMPANY  A. 

COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS — Captain,  James  R.  Hayden; 
First  Lieutenant,  James  V.  Guthrie;  Second  Lieutenant, 
Clifton  T.  Wharton;  Third  Lieutenant,  John  C.  Long.* 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS — Sergeants :  Thomas  M. 
Beatty,  William  A.  Calhoun,  William  B.  Curtis,  William 
Sackett,  and  William  D.  Hawley;  Corporals — Charles  L. 
Ranney,  Lewis  H.  Martin,  William  Quinton,  Thomas  R. 
Harker,  and  Isaac  Bard;  Musician,  John  Reilley. 

PRIVATES. 

Aldrich,  Clarence  Fitch,  George  W. 

Ambrose,  Mortimer  Fitch,  Samuel  H. 

Bangs,  Lester  G.  Fritz,  Frederick  R. 

Berg,  George  Gaffney,  James 

Bristol,  William  H.  Garvin,  James  L. 

Brownell,  William  E.  Geggie,  John 

Busse,  Frederick  Granger,  Andrew  H. 

Cherry,  John  G.  Guenther,  George 

Cole,  Theodore  Hageman,  Jacob 

Banks,  Albert  W.  Hahn,  David  A. 

Denmead,  Henry  Harrison,  DeWitt  C. 

Dietrich,  Henry  Hart,  Samuel  S. 

Doggett,  William  A.  Harvey,  Clarence  A. 

Dustin,  Emory  P.  Hedges,  James 

Edgell,  Joseph  H.  Holmes,  Derello  L. 

Ellis,  George  C.  Justice,  William 

Fergus,  John  Q.  Keeble,  Berwick  B. 

Filkins,  Edward  A.  Kennedy,  Michael  C. 


*The  rank  and  offirp  of  third  Nontenant  was  soon  done  awav  with. 


48  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  A,  PRIVATES — Continued. 

Knowlton,  William  S.  Sabin,  Luther  M. 

Lee,  Timothy  Smith,  Lewis  E. 

Lippert,  Eugene  W.  Stewart,  James 

Lippert,  Paul  H.  Stickney,  Alonzo  S. 

Loomis,  Clement  A.  gtout^  Robert 

Mann,  Charles  Sylvester,  Roscoe  G. 

Martin,  S.  Wesley  J 

McAllister,  Edward  Townsend,  Albert  T. 

McCormick,  William  Trueman,  George  S. 

McDonald,  Kyren  Turley>  Theophilus  C. 

McFarlane,  George  Uttman,  James  T. 

McKnight,  Charles  A.  Vreeland,  John 

Morse,  Albert  Wainwright,  Henry  S. 

Myers,  Samuel  H.  Wallace,  Edwin  E. 

Paddock,  James  O.  Ward,  John  R. 

Heifer,  Nicholas  Wheeler,  Charles  I. 

Phillips,  George  R,  Wheeler,  Edward  G. 

Powley,  John  R.  Wildey,  William  H. 

Price,  William  H.  Wilson,  Stephen 

Randall,  George  B.  Wilson,  William 

Rhodes,  Abner  A.  Winslow,  Zebedee  R. 

CHICAGO  ZOUAVES— COMPANY  B. 

COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS — Captain,  John  H.  Clybourne; 
First  Lieutenant,  Presley  N.  Guthrie;  Second  Lieutenant, 
Charles  H.  Shepley. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS— Sergeants :  Cornelius  V. 
Lamberson,  George  Eckart,  G.  A.  Busse,  and  Edson  W. 
Dorsey;  Corporals:  I.  S.  Johnson,  George  D.  Leonard,  S.  H. 
Scadin,  and  R.  L.  Ambrose. 

PRIVATES. 

Bagby,  James  R.  Benshel,  Andrew 

Barker,  Henry  N.  Bockee,  Abraham 

Bates,  Henry  W.  Bowie,  G.  H. 

Bell,  George  R.  Campbell,  George 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 


49 


COMPANY  B,  PRIVATES— Continued. 


Carney,  Michael 
Clark,  M.  M. 
Cobb,  Joseph 
Cunningham,  Wm.  R. 
Dopt,  John  D. 
Ferrers,  Charles 
Ferrers,  George 
Fitzgibbons,  Wm. 
Fletcher,  Horace  B. 
Ford,  Seth  L. 
Friedman,  I.  W. 
Griffin,  Daniel  W. 
Gunter,  Charles  S. 
Guntz,  Emil 
Ham,  William 
Haven,  E.  P. 
Hay  ley,  Thomas  C. 
Heller,  Albert 
Hettich,  Charles 
Higginson,  H.  C. 
Hoffman,  F.  J. 
Ho  well,  James  W. 
Jacobus,  Joseph  R. 
Johnston,  Thomas 
Jones,  Isaac 
Kent,  C.  A. 
Kling,  D.  C. 
Knapp,  Cyrus  F. 
Kurtcherval,  A.  W. 
Larg,  Emanuel 
Lees,  Charles  W. 
Linder,  U.  F. 


Matthei,  George  C. 
McConnell,  I.  D. 
McDonnell,  P. 
Mendle,  Benjamin 
Metz,  Lewis 
Miller,  George  H. 
Miller,  Michael  L. 
Newhouse,  John 
Newton,  John  B. 
Overacker,  Charles  E 
Ozier,  William  C. 
Pfium,  Isaac 
Potter,  W.  E. 
Russell,  P'rank  J. 
Schwarz,  Henry 
Scott,  John 
Shaffer,  Christian 
Shepard,  Frank 
Shoeneman,  Samuel 
Shoenewald,  F. 
Slagle,  Joseph  L. 
Smith,  James  H. 
Snow,  O.  N. 
Stephens,  John 
Stoughton,  Henry  D. 
Talbot,  John 
Tyler,  Richard  B. 
Tyler,  William  N. 
Voice,  I.  E. 
Wagner,  George  C. 
Walters,  John  M. 


CHICAGO  LIGHT  INFANTRY. 

COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS — Captain,  Frederick  Harding; 
First  Lieutenant,  Charles  A.  Colby;  Second  Lieutenant, 
Edward  H.  Brown. 


50 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 


NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS  --  Sergeants :  August 
Mauff,  James  B.  Faulkner,  Mortimer  C.  Wisener,  and 
James  Adrian;  Corporals:  Samuel  W.  Lyne,  William  B. 
Gallaher,  Peter  M.Cunningham  and  David  A.  Cunningham; 
Musicians:  Alexander  Bischof,  and  Edward  Kessler. 


PRIVATES. 


Acton,  James  R. 
Adams,  Henry  E. 
Aiken,  Alexander 
Allen,  William  H. 
Anderson,  Henry 
Barnes,  John  W. 
Baltazier,  Lewis 
Billings,  Edward  L. 
Bird,  George  A. 
Borden,  Lewis 
Broomfield,  James 
Butler,  William 
Carter,  Henry  E. 
Christian,  William  H. 
Clark,  Joseph  D. 
Clark,  Lyman 
Clark,  Thomas 
Clark,  Thomas  N. 
Conlay,  Thomas 
Davis,  Martin  K. 
Depner,  William 
Depner,  M.  Connard 
Eames,  Emerson  O. 
Earles,  Charles  W. 
Earnest,  Hamilton 
Enderson,  Abram 
Ferris,  Charles 
Flannigan,  John  T. 
Flory,  Andrew  J. 
Gaddis,  Clark 
Gallaher,  Martin 
Gavit,  George  B. 


Gifford,  Jesse  S. 
Gillespie,  John  M. 
Gowen,  Henry 
Graves,  Nausine 
Grimm,  Robert  S. 
Grooms,  Thomas  C. 
Gross,  Nicholas  S. 
Hanley,  Thomas 
Hanman,  Mather 
Hannis,  Thomas  W. 
Haynie,  James  Henry 
Hoffman,  John 
Hudson,  Joseph 
Humphrie,  James  A. 
Hutchinson,  Angus 
Johnston,  Frank  E. 
Jones,  Charles 
Jones,  Harrison 
Jordan,  Andrew 
Kelsey,  Bryant 
Locke,  Benjamin 
Longley,  Hiram 
Mahin,  John 
Maloney,  John 
Massey,  Hugh 
Mauff,  Edward 
Mauff,  Frederick 
McCracken,  Robert 
McGinnis,  John 
Me  Lane,  James 
McLaughlin,  Robert  M. 
Moses,  Charles 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  51 

PRIVATES— Continued. 

Pease,  Ira  A.  Smith,  John  N. 

Phelps,  Albert  Somerville,  William 

Pollard,  William  S.  Sperren,  Nicholas 

Quay,  Anderson  D.  Sperry  James  c 

Riff,  Nicholas  Sprague,  Nathaniel 

Schaener,  Jacob 

Stanley,  Edward 
Sheppard,  John  W . 

Shire,  Jeremiah  btreeter'  Horatl°  M' 

Simmons,  Hiram  D.  Taylor>  Wllham  R 

Smith,  Aaron  Wagner,  Edward  B. 

Smith,  Ami  Willard,  Thomas 

Smith,  John  Witter,  Lewis 

Smith,  John  H.  Zenney,  Arthur  M. 

CHICAGO  HIGHLAND  GUARDS— COMPANY  E 
OF  THE  NINETEENTH  ILL.  INF.  VOL. 


W  HEN  CALLED 
INTO  SERVICE. 


Ratten,  Alexander  W.,  Captain April  15,  1861 

Gabriel,  John,  1st  Lieutenant 

Bremner,  David  F.,  2nd  Lieutenant 

Young,  John,  1st  Sergeant 

Ratten,  James  W.,  2nd  Sergeant 

Steel,  George,  3rd  Sergeant 

Baird,  Andrew,  4th  Sergeant 

Campbell,  David,  1st  Corporal 

Blythe,  Thomas,  2nd  Corporal 

Cowan,  John  J.,  3rd  Corporal 

Chalmers,  Andrew,  4th  Corporal 

Sherman,  Nathaniel,  Musician 

PRIVATES. 

WHEN  CALLED  WHEN  CALLED 

^ INTO  SERVICE.  INTO  SERVICE. 

Amos,  William April  15,  1861     Baxter,  William April  15,  1861 

At  wood,  Amos  C Beddeker,  Bernard 

Barton,  Charles  S Bell,  William. . . 


52 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 


CHICAGO  HIGHLAND  GUARDS— Continued. 


NAME. 


WHEN   CALLED 
INTO  SERVICE. 


NAME . 


WHEN    CALLED 
INTO  SERVICE. 


Barraih,  John 

Bugnel,  Henry  O 

Barns,  Charles  H 

Conlon,  Michael 

Christian,  James 

Chield,  Charles 

Chapman,  Jas.  G 

Campbell,  James 

Cunningham,  Edwd.  . 

Coleman,  John 

Cappre,  Charles 

Decker,  W.  S 

Davidson,  William.. .  . 

Dick,  Thomas 

Dempsey,  Michael. .  .  . 

Downs,  Charles 

Drummond,  James. . . . 

Evans,  John  A 

Edmondson,  Burt 

Farrell,  Thomas 

Fuller,  Weston  C 

Fraser,  Alex.  McLeod. 

Flagg,  Charles 

George,  William 

Gordon,  Edward 

Gray,  William 

Griffith,  Watson 

Grove,  William  H .  .  .  . 

Grove,  Augustus 

Hahn,  James 

Hart,  James 

Hooper,  Joseph 

Huntington,  Joseph  C. 

Higgins,  Charles 

Hannixman,  Henry. .  . 
Harrison,  Walter 


April  15, 1861 


Hamilton,  James 

Healy,  Thomas 

Irons,  Andrew 

Johnson,  James  B .  .  .  . 

King,  Thomas 

Kelley,  Martin.. 

Kelley,  Patrick 

Lombard,  Horace 

McDonough,  M 

Me  Arthur,  David 

McLean,  John 

McNeil,  George 

McCormick,  James.  .  . 
McLaughlin,  John. .  .  . 
McLaughlin,  James. . 

McKay,  John 

McNider,  Robert..  .  . 
Murphy,  William  H.. 

Miller,  Andrew 

Noble,  John  G.  P...  . 
Narramere,  Chauncy 

O'Brien,  Daniel 

O'Mariah,  John 

Phillips,  John 

Porter,  Henry 

Riddle,  Walter 

Reed,  Smith 

Reiter,  Alfred....  .  . 

Robison,  Nelson  G.... 

Rutherford,  David..  . 
Revnolds,  John  H . .  . 
Simpson,  William..  .  . 

Sylvester,  Gushing..  . 

Spear,  Isaac  S 

Sheilds,  John 

Sharp,  Andrew 


.April  15,1861 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  53 

CHICAGO  HIGHLAND  GUARDS — Continued. 


WHEN   CALLED  WHEN  CALLED 

INTO  SERVICE.  NAME' INTO  SERVICE. 

Skipsey,  Joseph April  15, 1861  White,  James  M.. .    .  .      April  15, 1861 

Tomlin,  John "       "  Wood,  George  A 

Van  Balengoyen,  Henry          "       "  Westfall,  George 

Walton,  Richard "       "  Wignall,  Thomas 

Watson,  John  F •    "       "  Welsh,  Thomas  C 

While  Ellsworth's  famous  United  States  Zouave  Cadets 
Company  was  still  in  existence,  and  soon  after  the  Presi 
dential  campaign  of  1860,  a  company  of  " Wide- Awakes"— 
semi-military  bodies  of  young  and  old  Republicans— wishing 
to  continue  its  organization,  took  for  its  title  Company  B, 
Chicago  Zouaves,  with  "Jim"  Hay  den  for  its  Captain.  He 
had  been  First  Sergeant  of  the  original  Ellsworth  Zouaves 
Company — the  one  that  out-drilled  every  other  military 
company  in  theUnited  States,  and  of  which  our  own  gallant 
"Joe"  Scott  was  First  Lieutenant — and  he  was  second  only 
to  the  more  famous  Captain  Ellsworth  as  drillmaster.  The 
first  call  for  volunteers  found  Hayden  almost  prepared  for 
war.  The  ranks  were  soon  filled,  and,  as  Company  A, 
Chicago  Zouaves,  he  "boys"  were  ready  to  march  wherever 
ordered.  Meanwhile  the  Chicago  Light  Infantry,  Captain 
Harding  commanding,  had  also  filled  its  ranks;  the  same  is 
true  of  Company  B,  Chicago  Zouaves;  and  when  matching 
orders  came  on  that  Sunday  of  the  twenty-first  of  April, 
these  three  companies — with  the  artillery  and  the  two 
other  Infantry  companies  already  mentioned — after  listening 
to  a  short  addiess  from  General  Swift,  proceeded  to  the  main 
station  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  at  the  end  of  Lake 
street.  That  march  will  never  be  forgotten  by  the 
survivors  of  those  who  participated  in  it.  It  seemed  as  though 
the  whole  of  Chicago  had  assembled  along  Lake  Street  to 
see  us  off  to  the  war.  In  spite,  however,  of  the  energetic 


54  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

efforts  of  the  citizens  these  companies  left  Chicago  in  rather 
poor  shape  for  active  service.  We  all  wore  our  usual  cloth 
ing,  the  only  attempt  at  uniformity  being  that  we  had  a  red 
blanket  rolled  up  and  passed  over  the  left  shoulder  with  the 
ends  tied  by  a  string  under  the  right  arm.  The  artillery  was 
loaded  upon  platform  cars,  ready  for  almost  immediate  use; 
the  "soldiers"  found  seats  in  regular  day  coaches. 

It  was  about  eleven  o'clock  in  the  evening  when  the  train 
pulled  out  amidst  loud  cheering  by  the  thousands  who  had 
remained  to  see  us  off.  We  arrived  at  Centralia  shortly 
after  one  o'clock  the  next  day,  where  substantial  refresh 
ments  were  served,  and  where  Captain  Harding  picked  up  a 
man  who  had  been  a  soldiei  in  the  Regular  Army  for  several 
years.  His  name  was  Peter  Cunningham,  and  he  was  gladly 
accepted  into  the  Chicago  Light  Infantry  Company,  wherein 
he  became  a  Lieutenant  in  after  days.  At  Centralia  General 
Swift  was  informed  by  one  of  the  officials  of  the  railway  that 
threats-  were  being  made  to  destroy  the  bridge  across  Big 
Muddy  Creek,  and  he  took  his  precautions  accordingly. 
When,  at  about  five  o'clock  that  afternoon,  we  reached 
"Big  Muddy"  no  armed  force  was  visible,  but  Hay  den's 
company  wa  s  detailed  to  guard  th  e  bridge.  This  detail 
without  tents  for  two  days  and  nights,  were  compelled  to 
make  their  quarters  in  the  forest  as  best  they  could.  The 
res  t  of  the  expeditio  n  moved  on  to  Cairo,  arriving  there 
about  eleven  p.  m.,  the  22d.  That  town  was  found  to  be  in 
a  state  of  considerable  excitement,  but  glad  to  have  the  pro 
tection  of  Union  troops.  The  artillery  was  unloaded  and 
quickly  planted  on  the  levee,  so  as  to  sweep  both  rivers; 
the  infantry  were  quartered  in  some  cattle  sheds  which  hap 
pened  to  be  empty,  and  then  those  future  heroes  lay  down  in 
lowly  repose.  Things  were  somewhat  chaotic  for  awhile. 
There  were  no  tents  or  cooking  vessels,  and  for  a  few  days 
we  were  subsisted  at  the  best  hotel  in  the  place.  But  that 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  55 

luxury  was  soon  changed  to  something  like  regular  soldier's 
fare;  and,  to  make  us  feel  warlike  and  bold,  our  company 
officers  inaugurated  at  once  a  military  process  known  as 
drilling — a  habit  persisted  in,  so  to  speak,  until  we  were 
mustered  out  in  the  Summer  of  1864. 

About  ten  o'clock  on  the  forenoon  after  our  arrival  in 
Cairo  General  Swift  was  advised  that  a  force  of  some  five 
hundred  men  was  being  raised  at  Carbondale,  which  threat 
ened  to  tear  up  the  railroad  track  in  order  to  cut  his  com 
munication  with  Hayden'  s  company  at  Big  Muddy.  On 
receipt  of  this  information  he  detached  Captain  Clybourne's 
company,  and  Lieutenant  Willard  of  the  Chicago  Light 
Artillery,  with  one  cannon,  to  go  to  the  bridge  and  reinforce 
our  comrades  there.  This  move  had  the  desired  effect  and 
nothing  more  was  heard  of  the  Carbondale  Confederates. 
On  the  evening  of  the  twenty-fourth,  two  days  after  our  reach 
ing  Cairo,  General  Swift  was  relieved  of  his  command  by  Col 
onel  Benjamin  M.  Prentiss,  by  order  of  the  Governor  of 
Illinois,  and  ordered  to  report  to  headquarters  at  Spring 
field  at  once.  He  immediately  complied  with  this  command, 
and  we  passed  under  the  control  and  guidance  of  another 
chieftain. 

Those  of  us  in  Cairo  were  having  a  fairly  good  time,  but 
the  others  at  Big  Muddy  seem  to  have  been  enjoying  very 
disagreaeble  experiences.  They  soon  rejoined  us,  however, 
although  not  in  time  to  assist  at  the  capture  of  a  steamboat 
with  contraband  goods  on  board,  and  for  which  seizure  the 
Government  owes  us  to  this  day.  The  third  or  fourth  day 
after  our  arrival  the  steamer  Hillrnan,  a  first-class  passenger 
and  freight  boat  on  the  Mississippi,  came  up  from  Memphis 
on  her  way  to  St.  Louis,  and  as  she  neared  Cairo  her  steam 
calliope  played  lively  airs.  All  was  excitement  in  camp  and 
town,  for  it  was  rumored  that  she  was  loaded  down  with 
rebel  troops  and  munitions  of  war.  A  blank  shot  from  one 


56  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

of  the  battery  guns  failed  to  bring  her  to,  whereupon  a  solid 
shot  was  sent  across  her  bow  and  it  had  the  desired  effect 
A  parley  was  held  with  the  Captain,  and  soon  his  steamer 
was  roped  to  the  wharf.  An  examination  was  made,  but  no 
troops  were  discovered.  However,  a  number  of  muskets, 
revolvers  and  other  contraband  stores  were  found,  and 
these  were  distributed  among  our  troops.  If  we  mistake 
not,  there  was  another  steamer  stopped  and  captured,  while 
wre  were  at  Cairo. 

Our  stay  there  continued  during  ten  days  only,  but  dur 
ing  that  short  while  we  became  acquainted  with  an  officer  on 
General  Swift's  staff  who  was  afterwards  to  become  our 
Colonel,  Joseph  R.  Scott,  of  beloved  memory.  We  also 
found  one  "  Billy"  Nevans  with  the  General's  band.  He 
afterwards  became  the  Drum  Major  of  the  Nineteenth,  and, 
with  Fife  Major  Moore,  often  gave  new  life  to  our  flagging 
steps  on  many  a  weary  march.  By  and  by  the  two  compa 
nies  at  Big  Muddy  came  into  camp,  and  then  we  were  put 
through  batalion  drill  in  fine  style.  On  the  second  of  May 
the  three  Chicago  companies  were  ordered  to  Springfield, 
Illinois,  where  we  arrived  on  the  fourth,  and  were  quartered 
in  the  fairgrounds  at  Camp  Yates.  Here  we  found  the 
Highland  Guards,  from  whom  we  were  never  afterward 
separated.  The  four  companies  remained  at  Springfield  a 
month,  during  which  time  two  of  them  recieved  new  Zouave 
uniforms,  furnished  by  the  generous  citizens  of  Chicago; 
and  when  the  boys  had  donned  them,  they  made  a  grand 
street  parade  through  the  capital,  to  the  great  enjoyment  of 
the  Springfieldians.  It  was  said  while  we  were  in  Camp 
Yates  that  some  of  the  boys  went  out  one  night  to  a  pasture, 
carefully  selected  beforehand,  to  kill  a  calf,  wishing  to  have 
fresh  meat  in  their  rations.  Imagine  their  surprise  the  next 
morning  when  they  discovered  they  had  killed  a  mule! 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  57 

On  the  fifth  of  June  we  were  suddenly  ordered  to  Chicago. 
Our  departure  from  Springfield  was  a  hurried  one,  owing  to 
the  death  of  Senator  Stephen  A.  Douglas — he  was  very  ill 
at  the  Tremont  House  when  we  were  given  a  dinner  in  that 
famous  hostelry  before  starting  on  the  Cairo  Expedition— 
w^hich  had  just  occurred,  and  the  general  desire  that  we 
should  return  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  funeral  obsequies. 
In  less  than  an  hour  no  vestige  of  our  camp  remained;  the 
battalion  of  four  companies — the  Highland  Guards  were 
already  with  us — marched  to  the  train,  boarded  the  cars, 
and  reached  Chicago  the  next  morning.  Informed  that  the 
funeral  procession  was  awaiting  us,  we  dashed  from  the 
station  on  the  double  quick  for  Wabash  Avenue,  where  the 
line  was  formed,  with  our  four  companies  on  the  right. 
We  then  started  on  what  has  ever  been  considered  by  those 
who  participated  in  it,  as  one  of  the  most  exhausting  marches 
we  ever  endured.  Leaving  Springfield  the  previous  evening 
without  supper,  having  had  no  time  to  get  breakfast  that 
morning,  we  marched  under  a  very  warm  sun,  the  whole  dis 
tance  to  the  burial  place,  where  the  Douglas  monument  now 
is,  nearly  four  miles,  in  slow  time  and  at  reversed  arms, 
our  only  relief  being  to  change  arms  from  one  side  to  the  other 
and,  on  arriving  at  the  grave,  had  to  stand  at  parade  rest 
during  the  long  and  tedious  ceremony.  Oh!  what  a  relief 
what  it  was  to  hear  the  order,  " Attention!  Stack  Arms! 
Break  ranks,  March!"  Then,  for  the  first  time,  did  we  have 
an  opportunity  of  exchanging  greetings  with  such  of  our 
friends  as  had  not  feared  to  undertake  the  journey,  and  seek 
the  refreshment  of  which  we  stood  so  much  in  need,  and 
which  had  thoughtfully  been  provided  in  the  shape  of  sand 
wiches  and  coffee.  After  resting  for  some  time,  we  again 
"fell  in,"  and  marched  directly  West  a  few  blocks  to  some 
vacant  ground  just  South  of  the  University,  where  we  or 
ganized  "Camp  Long,"  in  honor  of  Lieutenant  Long's  father, 


58  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

and  afterward  known  as  Camp  Douglas.  And  here  the 
story  of  those  of  the  Nineteenth  who  shared  in  the  hurried 
rush  from  Chicago  the  twenty-first  of  April,  1861,  ends. 

Twenty-six  years  after  our  leaving  for  the  front  the 
survivors  of  that  expedition  held  a  Reunion  in  Chicago. 
Speeches  were  made,  and  letters  were  read  from  several 
persons  unable  to  be  present.  One  of  the  most  interesting 
of  these  was  written  by  the  Military  Secretary  to  General 
Swift,  Lieutenant  William  Hemstreet,  formerly  of  Chicago, 
but  now  living  in  Brooklyn.  Among  other  things  he  wrote, 
under  date  of  April  6,  1887:  "A  quarter  of  a  century  ago 
this  very  hour,  I  was  in  the  deadly  whirl  of  Shiloh,  and  what 
more  fit  time  to  answer  your  kind  invitation  to  attend  the 
twenty-sixth  anniversary  of  our  start  for  Cairo.  .  .  . 
The  scene  as  we  moved  down  Michigan  Avenue,  to  the  sound 
of  discordant  whistles,  the  cheers,  the  ringing  bells  and  the 
salvos  of  artillery,  will  never  be  forgotten.  The  North 
was  aroused  and  the  Government  at  Washington  encouraged. 
Chicago  of  all  the  Northwest  had  struck  first,  and  the  moral 
and  material  influence  of  that  prompt,  manly,  patriotic  act 
reflected  superlative  credit  on  the  State  of  Illinois  before  the 
whole  country,  for  Cairo  was  known  to  be  a  salient  reaching 
out  into  hostile  territory,  and  its  preoccupation  by  the 
enemy  would,  perhaps,  have  turned  Kentucky  and  Mis 
souri,  an  d  cost  untold  blood  and  treasure  to  retrieve.  .  .  . 
As  we  passed  down  the  State  we  found  the  people  everywhere 
expecting  and  waiting  for  us  with  patriotic  demonstrations. 
Solitary  woodsmen  and  ploughmen  ran  to  the  side  of  the 
passing  train  and  shouted  their  blessing:  the  whole  State 
was  aroused.  ...  At  Big  Muddy  the  engineers  re 
fused  to  cross,  fearing  that  the  timbers  of  the  bridge  had  been 
sawed,  and  that  bush-whackers  were  in  the  underbrush. 
Don't  you  remember  that  the  General,  with  bare  head,  in 
his  shirt  sleeves,  suspenders  over  his  hips,  and  double-bar- 


0   '     S       -p   O 


<1  c  ^ 

jg  •   Q        cr1 


Op'     .     ^  p 


QS-, 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  59 

relied  shotgun  in  his  hands,  crossed  the  bridge  ahead  of  his 
staff?  Arriving  at  Cairo,  we  were  not  an  hour  too  earl y. 
The  Mayor  of  the  city  boarded  the  train,  and  told  us  there 
was  a  scheme  by  mischief  makers  to  open  the  levees  and  flood 
the  town.  By  daylight  we  had  our  patrols,  the  artillery 
was  posted,  and  the  great  Mississippi  and  the  Ohio  were 
blockaded.  .  .  .  Many  amusing  incidents  might  be 
recalled  of  those  days  of  proud  and  useful  glory.  On  the 
first  day  in  Cairo  General  Swift  received  from  some  citizens 
a  keg  of  brandy.  To  be  safe  he  ordered  the  Staff  Surgeon  to 
analyze  it,  and  we  all  went  into  the  hotel  and  'analyzed'  it. 
The  General  placed  the  Quartermaster  and  myself,  armed 
to  the  teeth,  on  guard,  to  the  wonderment  of  the  multitude, 
over  a  mysterious  brass-bound  box  which  we  supposed  was 
the  money  chest  of  the  expedition;  but,  after  tiresome  hours 
of  vigil  and  watch,  it  proved  to  be  a  gunsmith's  kit  of  tools!" 
On  Friday,  April  21,  1911,  just  fifty  years  from  the  time 
when  we  started  for  "Egypt,"  to  protect  Illinois  against 
Confederate  invasion,  another  Reunion  of  the  survivors  of 
that  expedition  was  held  in  Memorial  Hall,  at  Chicago. 
At  that  meeting  Comrade  Albert  Heller,  a  member  of  Cap 
tain  Clybourne's  company  of  Zouaves,  met  an  old  friend  he 
had  not  seen  since  the  war.  Speaking  of  his  experiences  at 
the  front  afterward,  he  said:  "For  about  one  year  I  was  a 
bugler,  and  I  used  to  go  along  the  lines  ready  to  sound  the 
calls.  At  the  battle  of  Davis  Crossroads,  in  Georgia,  I  was 
standing  by  the  Captian  when  a  shell  screeched  past,  a  few 
feet  at  one  side.  The  concussion  knocked  me  down  and  1 
heard  some  one  say,  'There  goes  our  bugler.'  I  called  back, 
'Well,  hardly,'  and  got  up  again."  Our  good  friend  Comrade 
Adolph  George,  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Illinois,  Comrade 
James  Gaffney,  of  Hayden's  Zouave  Company,  Comrade 
John  Q.  Fergus,  of  the  same  company,  and  Comrade  "Billy" 
Christian,  of  Harding's  company,  were  among  those 


60  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

of  the  "survivors"  who  spoke.  Gaffney,  lef erring  to  the 
experiences  at  Big  Muddy,  said:  "We  were  on  the  look 
out  for  rebels  all  night.  Every  time  a  calf  or  a  pig  made  a 
noise  somewhere,  there  were  shots  fired,  and  the  Corporal  of 
of  the  Guard  was  kept  busy.  We  were  in  a  fine  fix,  for  it 
rained  a  week,  and  all  the  protection  we  had  from  it  was  half 
a  blanket  and  a  fence  corner  apiece."  Fergus  declares  it 
rained  for  nine  days,  and  that  he  was  the  first  man  in  the 
company  assigned  to  guard  duty.  "We  couldn't  do  much 
cooking.  Nobody  knew  how;  so  we  had  food  sent  down 
from  Chicago."  Christian — he  is  postmaster  of  Stephen- 
ville,  Texas, — told  the  boys  of  a  romance  in  which  he  played 
the  leading  role.  "After  the  war  I  came  back  to  Chicago. 
About  six  years  after  the  Cairo  trip  I  went  to  General  Swift's 
house.  There  I  met  his  daughter,  Prudence  E.  Swift,  and 
within  a  year  from  that  time  she  became  Mrs.  W.  H.  Chris 
tian.  She  is  down  in  Texas  now." 

The  President  of  the  Cairo  Survivors'  Association,  Lieu 
tenant  John  Young,  of  Company  E,  told  of  his  being  almost 
fatally  wounded  on  the  second  day  of  the  battle  of  Chick- 
amauga — this  casualty  will  be  fully  dealt  with  in  our  account 
of  that  memorable  engagement — and  Lieutenant  Lester  G. 
Bangs,  formerly  of  Hayden's  Zouave  Company,  and  Young 
exchanged  recollections  of  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge. 
At  that  time  Bangs  was  Adjutant  of  the  Nineteenth,  and  we 
were  all  very  fond  of  him.  Comrade  Young  said:  "Bangs 
and  I  left  camp  at  about  the  same  time,  I  going  by  Fort 
Wood  to  see  where  our  firing  was  doing  the  best  work,  and 
he  straight  toward  the  Regiment.  As  I  returned  to  our  lines 
I  saw  him  stretched  out  on  the  ground,  his  face  staring  to 
the  sky  overhead.  'Are  you  badly  hurt,  Bangs?'  I  asked. 
He  nodded  his  head,  but  didn't  speak;  his  teeth  were  gritted 
so  hard  that  he  probably  couldn't  have  done  so  if  he  had  tried 
to.  I  found  that  his  right  knee  had  been  shattered."  At 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  61 

this  point  Comrade  Bangs  interrupted.  "Was  it  you,  Jack, 
that  sent  Doc.  Little  to  care  for  me?  I  had  just  crossed  the 
valley  before  coming  to  the  ridge  when  I  was  struck,  and  down 
I  went.  I  hadn't  been  there  very  long  before  I  realized  that 
the  doctor  had  come  to  take  care  of  me.  He  didn't  wait 
until  the  battle  was  all  over.  He  went  right  into  the  thick 
of  the  .fight  to  attend  to  the  boys  who  had  been  wounded . 
George!  How  that  knee  of  mine  did  hurt !  But  I  was  placed 
in  a  good  position  well  back,  under  some  trees,  where  I  had 
a  fine  view  of  the  battle  and  my  comrades  driving  the  Con 
federates.  I  lost  my  leg  as  the  result  of  that  shot,  so  that 
was  all  of  the  war  for  me." 

A  little  more  than  a  month  afterward  the  Chicago  His 
torical  Society  gave  a  Grand  Reunion  commemorative  of 
the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  opening  of  the  Civil  War,  at 
which  the  survivors  of  the  various  Chicago  organizations 
responding  to  Mr.  Lincoln's  first  call  for  troops  were  the 
guests  of  honor.  The  Nineteenth  was  ably  represented  on 
this  memorable  occasion.  Captain  Bremner  and  Lieutenant 
Young  being  among  the  speakers.  The  Editor  of  these 
pages  was  invited  to  be  present,  but  he  was  compelled  to 
decline,  and  in  his  letter  of  regret  he  said :  "It  would  indeed 
be  a  glorious  privilege  to  attend  the  meeting  of  my  surviving 
comrades  of  the  war  which  the  Chicago  Historical  Society 
is  giving,  and  wherein  so  many  of  her  illustrious  citizens  will 
no  doubt  take  part.  But  just  now  my  health  is  not  good  and 
I  dare  not  venture  so  far  away  from  home.  However,  next 
Monday  evening  I  shall  be  with  you  in  spirit,  if  not  in  body, 
and  in  the  meantime  I  shall  ask  the  God  on  whom  our  martyr 
President  staunchly  relied,  and  whom  he  ever  trusted,  to 
bless,  not  only  those  who  are  with  you  on  this  occasion  but, 
the  city  of  Chicago,  from  whence  I  went  to  the  war,  to  which 
I  returned  after  the  war,  and  where  I  resided  several  years, 
until  called  to  journalistic  work  in  New  York  City;  and  I 


62  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

shall  also  ask  Him  to  bless  the  dear  State  of  Illinois,  wherein 
I  was  born  nearly  seventy  years  ago." 

Sometime  in  June,  1911,  the  sender  of  those  regrets  re 
ceived  a  letter  from  Captain  Israel  P.  Rumsey,  of  the  Chicago 
Historical  Society — his  brother  was  one  of  the  boys  who 
helped  to  train  cannon  on  the  steamer  Hillman — and  at 
the  head  of  a  very  large  business  concern  in  that  city,  in  which 
he  said: 

aMy  dear  Comrade: — I  have  the  honor  of  receiving  a 
copy  of  your  very  enthusiastic  letter,  and  the  Secretary  of 
the  Society  has  requested  me  to  acknowledge  your  historical 
remembrances.  I  wish  I  could  do  the  subject  justice,  but 
it  is  impossible;  for  there  is  no  one  who  can  give  expression 
to  the  sentiments  aroused  by  your  report  of  your  early  en 
listment,  our  connection  with  the  first  troops  going  to  Cairo 
and  with  the  great  historical  Nineteenth,  long  commanded 
by  the  noble  soldier,  General  John  B.  Turchin.  This  all 
comes  fresh  to  me  as  my  brother,  John  W.  Rumsey,  was  in 
Battery  A,  which  left  with  General  Swift's  command  on  that 
notable  Sunday  after  Fort  Sumter  was  fired  upon  and  in 
which  were  so  many  of  our  Chicago  boys.  A  little  later,  in 
April,  I  helped  organize  Taylor's  Battery  B;  and,  on  June 
3,  1861,  it  followed  you  and  Battery  A  to  Cairo.  Later 
Batteries  A  and  B  were  together  in  Sherman's  Fifteenth 
Corps  for  the  three  years  of  real  war.  Now  regarding  the 
interesting  reception.  The  Chicago  Historical  Society's 
rooms  are  full  of  historic  trophies  and  histories,  although  some 
of  its  greatest  treasures  were  destroyed  in  the  great  confla 
gration  of  1871,  including  the  colors  of  the  Nineteenth 
given  after  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  together  with  the  Flags 
of  Batteries  A  and  B,  given  them  after  the  battle  of  Fort 
Donelson;  but  the  rooms  are  still  filled  with  relics  either 
presented  or  loaned  by  old  soldiers.  There  were  fully  five 
hundred  present;  the  auditorium  was  filled.  Judge  Thomas 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  63 

Dent,  the  President,  opened  the  evening's  entertainment, 
then  introduced  General  Walter  C.  Newberry,  Vice-Presi 
dent  of  the  Society.  Enclosed  I  hand  you  a  copy  of  the 
program  and  can  only  say  that  each  organization  thereon 
mentioned  was  well  represented.  The  music  was  particu 
larly  fine.  We  went  home  near  midnight,  feeling  that  we 
had  had  most  refreshing  remembrances  of  our  days  of  the 
Civil  War,  and  especially  of  our  enlistment,  offering  our 
selves  to  our  Country  for  its  preservation,  and  for  which 
so  many  gave  their  lives  to  protect  its  Honor  and  its  Flag. 

''Yours  very  truly, 

"ISRAEL  P.  RUMSEY." 


*, 
X  — 


Gen.  R.  K.  Swift,  Commander  Cairo  Expedition 


CHAPTER  III. 

PAGE 

ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  19ra  ILLINOIS  VOL.  INFANTRY.    .  67 

COL.  JOSEPH  R.  SCOTT 67 

COL.  JOHN  BASIL  TURCHIN 69 

LIEUT.   COL.  ALEXANDER  RAFFEN 70 

MAJOR  FREDERICK  HARDING  70 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  67 


CHAPTER  III. 

An  act  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Illinois  passed 
May  2,  1861,  provided  that  one  organization  might  be 
raised  out  of  the  volunteer  companies  then  at  Springfield  as 
the  Regiment  from  the  State  at  Large,  while  other  regiments 
were  to  come  from  each  of  the  nine  Congressional  Districts 
of  the  State.  Seven  regiments  of  infantry,  Illinois'  quota 
under  Mr.  Lincoln's  first  call,  had  already  gone  to  the  front; 
and  as,  in  honor  of  the  regiments  which  were  in  the  Mexican 
War,  the  numbering  of  those  battalions  began  with  the 
Seventh  and  ended  with  the  Twelfth,  these  new  regiments 
ran  from  the  Thirteenth  to  the  Twenty-second,  inclusive. 
Thus  it  came  about  that  such  distinguished  Illinois  soldiers  as 
Major  General  John  M.  Palmer,  Colonel  of  the  Fourteenth 
(it  was  in  this  regiment  that  the  founders  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic,  Doctor  Benjamin  F.  Stephenson  and  Rev 
erend  William  J.  Rutledge,  served,  the  former  as  Surgeon,  the 
latter  as  Chaplain),  and  Lieutenant  General  Ulysses  S.  Grant 
Colonel  of  the  Twenty-first  (it  must  ever  be  a  pleasing 
thought  with  the  men  who  composed  that  organization  to 
remember  that  the  man  who  first  led  them  in  defense  of  the 
Country's  Flag  became  the  most  illustrious  Captain  of  the 
age  and  generation  in  which  he  lived),  entered  the  Union 
service. 

That  Regiment  from  the  State  at  Large,  consisting  then 
of  only  four  companies,  commanded  by  Colonel  Joseph  R. 
Scott,  was  mustered  into  service  May  4,  1861,  at  Camp 
Yates.  Ordered  to  Chicago  on  the  third  of  June,  these 
four  became  the  nucleus  of  an  organization  which,  after 


68  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

having  been  filled  up  to  its  quota,  was,  on  the  seventeenth 
of  June,  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  for  three 
years  as  the  Nineteenth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  This 
date  of  muster  shows  that  Ours  was  not  of  the  number  of 
the  regiments  organized  under  the  act  of  April  25,  1861,  yet 
it  embraced  four  original  companies  which  tendered  their 
services  to  the  State  and  Country  and  were  accepted  far 
earlier  than  many  other  companies  that  belonged  to  the  six 
original  regiments  from  Illinois.  We  have  given  the  Cairo 
history  of  three  of  these  companies;  the  fourth  was  the  Chi 
cago  Highland  Guards,  dating  its  organization  back  to  1855; 
it  contained  representatives  of  the  Thistle,  Rose,  and  Sham 
rock,  mingled  with  native  Americans,  and  it  at  once  took  an 
honorable  position  in  the  ranks  of  the  citizens  soldiery  of 
Chicago.  So  well  was  it  drilled  it  was  able  to  make  a  very 
creditable  showing  in  a  competition  at  the  United  States 
Fair  held  in  Chicago,  against  the  Ellsworth  Zouave  Cadets, 
just  returned  from  a  triumphant  tour  of  the  United  States. 
One  of  the  judges  who  complimented  the  Highland  Guard 
on  that  occasion  was  General  Loyd  Tilgham,  afterward  a 
Confederate  officer  who  surrendered  to  the  Union  forces  at 
Fort  Henry,  where  the  Captain  of  the  company  he  had  thus 
praised  (John  Me  Arthur)  commanded  a  brigade  in  the 
victorious  army.  No  wonder,  then,  that  McArthur's  com 
pany  should  have  been  ready  to  offer  its  services  as  it  did, 
to  the  Governor  of  Illinois  as  early  as  January,  1861,  at  the 
time  of  the  "Star  of  the  West"  affair.  If  not  accepted  then 
it  was  when  Sumter  fell,  and  the  first  call  for  volunteers 
startled  the  Nation.  Ordered  to  remain  in  its  armory, 
ready  to  move  at  a  moment's  notice,  the  company,  now  a 
part  of  Washington  Independent  Regiment  No.  1,  left  for 
Springfield  on  April  23d,  and  the  Cairo  companies  found  it 
in  Camp  Yates  when  we  reached  that  city.  Previous  to 
leaving  Chicago  an  election  of  officers  of  the  Highland 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  69 

Guard  was  held.  Captain  McArthur  having  been  chosen 
Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the  Independent  Regiment,  Alexander 
W.  Raffen  was  elected  Captain,  John  Gabriel,  First  Lieu 
tenant,  and  David  F.  Bremner,  Second  Lieutenant.  When 
the  Highland  Guard  was  mustered  in  as  Company  E  of  the 
Nineteenth  a  new  election  was  held.  Captain  Raffen  was 
re-elected,  but  Gabriel  not  caring  to  remain  in  the  service, 
Bremner  was  promoted  to  be  First  Lieutenant,  and  Ser 
geant  John  Young  was  chosen  as  Second  Lieutenant.  Al 
ready  there  had  been  quite  a  change  in  the  roster  of  this 
company,  several  of  its  original  members  having  been  trans 
ferred  into  other  regiments  as  officers;  yet  it  is  a  singular 
fact  that  of  all  those  who  tendered  their  services  in  January, 
1861,  not  one  was  killed,  although  nearly  every  one  of  them 
was  engaged  in  most  of  the  great  battles  of  the  war,  from 
Bull  Run  to  the  end  of  the  Rebellion. 

The  Roster  of  the  Regiment,  when  organized  at  Camp 
Long  and  sworn  into  service  for  three  years,  was  as  follows : 
FIELD  AND  STAFF — Colonel,  John  B.  Turchin;  Lieutenant 
Colonel,  Joseph  R.  Scott;  Major,  Frederick  Harding;  Ad 
jutant,  Chauncey  Miller;  Quartermaster,  Robert  W.  Weth- 
erell;  Surgeon,  Samuel  C.  Blake  (resigned  in  a  few  months, 
and  succeeded  by  Dr.  Roswell  G.  Bogue);  First  Assistant 
Surgeon,  Preston  H.  Bailhache;  Chaplain,  Rev.  Augustus 
H.  Conant. 

LINE  OFFICERS — Company  A:  Captain,  James  R.  Hay- 
den;  First  Lieutenant,  Clifton  T.  Wharton;  Second  Lieu 
tenant,  John  C.  Long.  Company  B  (Elmira  Rifles, 
Stark  County):  Captain,  Charles  A.  Stuart;  First  Lieu 
tenant,  Stephen  M.  Hill;  Second  Lieutenant,  Alexander 
Murchison,  Jr.  Company  C:  Captain,  James  V.  Guthrie; 
First  Lieutenant,  William  Innis ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Leavens 
J.  Keeler.  Company  D:  Captain,  Charles  A.  Colby;  First 
Lieutenant,  James  R.  Faulkner;  Second  Lieutenant,  D.  E. 


70  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

Cunningham.  Company  E  (Chicago  Highland  Guards): 
Captain,  Alexander  W.  Raffen;  First  Lieutenant,  David  F. 
Bremner;  Second  Lieutenant,  John  Young.  Company  F 
(Cass  County  Guards):  Captain,  Luther  L.  Allard;  First 
Lieutenant,  Knowlton  H.  Chandler;  Second  Lieutenant, 
Thomas  Job.  Company  G:  Captain,  Charles  D.  C.  Wil 
liams;  First  Lieutenant,  Lyman  Bridges;  Second  Lieutenant, 
Charles  H.  Roland.  Company  H  (Moline  Rifles):  Cap 
tain,  Peachy  A.  Garriott;  First  Lieutenant,  DeWitt  C.  Mar 
shall;  Second  Lieutenant,  Alvah  Mansur.  Company  I 
(Anti-Beauregards,  Galena) :  Captain,  Bushrod  B.  Howard ; 
First  Lieutenant,  Thaddeus  G.  Drum;  Second  Lieutenant, 
John  R.  Madison.  Company  K:  Captain,  John  H.  Cly- 
bourne;  First  Lieutenant,  Presley  N.  Guthrie;  Second  Lieu 
tenant,  Charles  H.  Shepley. 

To  complete  the  record,  we  are  impelled  to  add  some 
further  information  concerning  these,  our  first  officers. 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Scott  was  promoted  to  the  Colonelcy 
August  7,  1862,  vice  Turchin,  made  a  Brigadier  General. 
Colonel  "Joe"  remained  in  command  of  the  Regiment  until 
he  was  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  January  2, 
1863;  he  died  from  the  effects  thereof  the  eighth  of  July  fol 
lowing.  We  shall  have  more  to  say  of  his  death  and  funeral 
later  on.  Three  months  and  two  weeks  after  Scott  was  put 
at  the  head  of  the  Nineteenth,  Captain  Raffen  was  pro 
moted  to  be  Lieutenant  Colonel  (ever  after  the  death  of 
trie  gallant  and  beloved  Scott  the  Regiment  was  without  a 
Colonel),  and  he  held  the  rank  until  we  were  mustered  out 
in  July,  1864.  Major  Harding  resigned  from  the  service 
September  6,  1862,  whereupon,  on  that  same  date,  Captain 
James  V.  Guthrie  was  promoted  to  that  rank  and  office,  and 
held  it  till  we  were  mustered  out.  Adjutant  Miller  resigned 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  71 

i 

July  12,  1862,  and  Sergeant  Major  Lester  G.  Bangs  was  pro 
moted  to  that  rank  and  office  August  23,  of  that  same  year, 
and  later  discharged  on  account  of  wounds  received  at 
the  Battle  of  Missionary  Ridge. 

Regimental  Quartermaster  Wetherell  held  that  rank 
until  in  August,  1864,  when  he  was  promoted  by  the  Presi 
dent  to  be  Captain  and  Assistant  Quartermaster  United 
States  Volunteers.*  First  Assistant  Surgeon  Bailhache,  of 
Springfield,  resigned  when  promoted  to  be  Surgeon  of  the 
Fourteenth  Illinois  Cavalry,  and  Doctor  Charles  F.  Little, 
of  Kewanee,  was  appointed  to  the  vacancy,  holding  the 
office  until  we  were  mustered  out.  The  twenty-second  of 
May,  1863,  the  Regiment  was  allowed  a  Second  Assistant 
Surgeon  in  the  person  of  Doctor  Gilbert  W.  Southwick,  who 
resigned  five  months  afterward.  Chaplain  Conant  remained 
with  us  until  his  death,  deeply  regretted,  in  February, 
1863. 

The  Captain  (Hay den)  and  First  Lieutenant  (Wharton) 
of  Company  A  held  their  same  rank  and  office  until  finally 
mustered  out,  although  the  former  was  on  detailed  service 
which  entitled  him  to  much  higher  rank.  Second  Lieuten 
ant  Long  was  transferred  to  the  United  States  Army  August 
6,  1861,  and  Sergeant  William  B.  Curtis  was  promoted  to 
the  vacancy.  He  resigned  August  17,  1862,  and  was  com 
missioned  Captain  and  Assistant  Adjutant  General  on  the 
staff  of  Brigadier  General  Turchin.  His  tragic  death  will 
be  described  hereafter.  At  his  resignation  Sergeant  Thomas 
M.  Beatty  was  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  of  Company 
A,  and  was  finally  mustered  out  with  that  rank. 

*After  the  regiment's  muster  out,  Captain  Wetherell  appointed  Comrade  James 
Shinkle  of  Company  A  his  Chief  Clerk,  and  Comrade  J.  Henry  Haynie  of  Company  D 
his  second  Clerk,  and  they  were  with  him  when  he  was  helping  to  s apply  Sherman's 
army  on  the  advance  to  Atlanta,  Georgia.  The  latter  left  him  at  that  city  to  become 
Chief  Clerk  with  Captain  Charles  Deane,  another  Assistant  Quartermaster  United  States 
Volunteers,  with  whom  he  remained  at  the  front  until  in  1866,  when  Deane  was  mustered 
out,  and  he  returned  to  his  home  at  Peoria,  Illinois.  He  was  accompanied  to  that  city 
by  Comrade  Haynie  and  "Nick"  Phiefer,  formerly  of  Company  A,  and  who  had  been 
the  Captain's  Wagon  Master  while  at  Chattanooga  and  elsewhere. 


72  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

* 

In  Company  B  changes  were  numerous.  Captain  Stuart, 
a  gallant  officer,  resigned  July  15,  1862,  whereupon 
First  Lieutenant  Murchison — he  had  succeeded  Hill,  resigned 
November  29,  1861 — was  commissioned  Captain,  and  held 
that  office  until  finally  discharged.  Second  Lieutenant 
Jackson  (promoted  from  Sergeant)  succeeded  to  this  va 
cancy,  and  thereupon  Sergeant  John  H.  Hunter  became  Sec 
ond  Lieutenant.  When  Captain  "Jim"  Guthrie  was  pro 
moted  to  the  Majority  September  6,  1862,  Lieutenant  Iness 
was  made  Captain  of  Company  C,  while  Sergeant  Washing 
ton  L.  Wood,  although  he  had  been  discharged  July  31,  1862, 
on  account  of  disability,  was  commissioned  to  fill  the  vacancy 
thus  created.  The  twenty-first  of  November,  1862,  Second 
Lieutenant  Keeler,  of  Company  C,  resigned  for  promotion 
to  Assistant  Surgeon  Sixth  Kentucky  Cavalry,  and  Ser 
geant  Edward  A.  Filkens  succeeded  to  the  vacancy.  He 
resigned  February  20,  1863,  and  Sergeant  Cyrus  E.  Keith 
was  commissioned  to  the  rank  and  office  of  Second  Lieu 
tenant  of  Company  C.  First  Sergeant  William  Quinton  of 
this  company  was  promoted  to  be  Second  Lieutenant  of 
another  company  in  the  Regiment  the  nineteenth  of  De 
cember,  1862.  Apropos  of  Company  C's  Sergeants,  Com 
rade  Ira  J.  Chase  rose  to  the  high  and  honorable  position  of 
Governor  of  Indiana  after  the  war. 

Captain  "Charley"  Colby  of  Company  D  resigned  Feb 
ruary  9,  1863,  and  First  Lieutenant  William  A.  Calhoun 
was  promoted  to  the  vacancy,  holding  it  until  the  Regiment 
was  mustered  out.  Besides  Faulkner,  who  resigned  early 
in  the  war,  the  First  Lieutenants  of  Company  D  were — 
Samuel  S.  Boone  (appointed  from  civil  life  October  31, 
1861),  resigned  February  1,  1863;  Calhoun,  promoted;  Peter 
Cunningham,*  resigned  June  20.  1863;  and  Oliver  E.  Eames. 

*He  was  the  ex-regular  whom  Harding  discovered  at  Centralia,  Illinois,  April  22, 
1801;  he  was  promoted  from  First  Sergeant  to  First  Lieutenant  when  Calhoun  became 
Captain, 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  73 

The  Second  Lieutenants  were :  Chauncey  Miller,  promoted 
to  be  Adjutant  August  10,  1861;  David  A.  Cunningham,  re 
signed  November  5,  1861;  William  A.  Calhoun,  brought  into 
the  Company  from  Company  A.  and  Henry  E.  Carter,  who 
was  mustered  in  with  that  rank  March  2,  1863,  but  resigned 
about  seven  months  later. 

When  Captain  Raffen,  of  Company  E,  was  promoted  to 
Lieutenant  Colonel,  First  Lieutenant  Bremner  was  advanced 
in  rank,  and  he  commanded  the  company,  as  Captain,  until 
the  Regiment's  final  muster  out.  Second  Lieutenant 
Young  was  promoted  to  the  vacancy  thus  created,  and  First 
Sergeant  James  W.  Raffen  was  advanced  to  Second  Lieu 
tenant.  Both  officers  last  named  were  holding  these  re 
spective  ranks  at  the  time  of  our  mustering  out.  Captain 
Allard,  of  Company  F,  resigned  December  1,  1861,  and  First 
Lieutenant  Chandler  was  promoted  to  the  vacancy  (he  was 
killed  in  the  battle  of  Stone  River).  Chandler  was  suc 
ceeded  by  First  Lieutenant  James  G.  Campbell  (promoted 
from  Sergeant  to  be  Second  Lieutenant),  and  he  was  in  com 
mand  of  the  Company,  as  Captain,  to  the  end  of  our  service. 
At  the  time  of  the  vacancies  in  this  company  brought  about 
by  the  resignation  of  Allard,  a  new  man,  Samuel  L.  Hamilton, 
came  into  the  Regiment  as  Second  Lieutenant  of  Company 
F,  and  on  Campbell's  advancement  to  the  Captaincy  he 
was  promoted  to  be  First  Lieutenant.  The  other  Second 
Lieutenants  were:  Thomas  L.  Job,  accidentally  killed  at 
Hannibal,  Missouri,  July  18,  1861 ;  Campbell,  already  named; 
John  Hill,  promoted  from  Sergeant  and  resigned  June  3, 
1863,  and  Silas  W.  Kent  (a  Private,  promoted  to  be  Ser 
geant,  and  commissioned  to  succeed  Hill),  who  resigned 
January  2,  1864.' 

While  Company  G  remained  in  the  Regiment  the  changes 
in  its  officers  were  but  few.  The  first  of  January,  1862, 
Captain  Williams  was  transferred  to  the  Artillery,  and  First 


74  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

Lieutenant  Bridges  was  promoted  to  the  vacancy  thus 
brought  about.  This  resulted  in  the  advancement  of  Second 
Lieutenant  " Billy"  Bishop  (he  had  succeeded  Charles 
Roland,  transferred),  who  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga.  Company  H  seems  to  have  had  no  other  Captain 
than  Garriott,  who  was  discharged  February  3,  1864.  Its 
First  Lieutenants  were:  Marshall,  already  mentioned,  arid 
who  resigned  December  1,  1861;  Mansur,  resigned  July  22, 
1863;  Volney  C.  Johnson,  resigned  October  25,  1863;  and 
John  Dedrick,  who  took  rank  from  the  date  of  Johnson's 
departure  and  was  mustered  out  as  such  July  9,  1864.  The 
Second  Lieutenants  were:  Mansur,  promoted;  Wellington 
Wood  (promoted  from  Sergeant),  who  died  from  wounds 
in  January,  1863;  and  Johnson,  promoted. 

Born  in  the  beautiful  manufacturing  town  of  Moline, 
Illinois,  in  September,  1839,  a  graduate  of  the  High  School 
of  that  place,  Wood  had  began  the  study  of  law  when  the  war 
broke  out.  He  at  once  volunteered  into  the  Moline  Rifles, 
was  appointed  First  Sergeant,  and,  with  his  company, 
became  a  part  of  the  Nineteenth  at  the  time  of  our  muster  in, 
June  17,  1861.  The  first  of  December  of  that  year  he  was 
commissioned  as  Second  Lieutenant  of  H  Company.  He 
was  a  splendid  marksman  with  both  pistol  and  rifle,  and  for 
shooting  on  the  wing  seldom  met  his  equal,  although  once 
Captain  "  Charley"  Colby  beat  him  at  revolver  work  on 
one  of  our  marches.  At  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  while  a 
few  feet  ahead  of  his  company,  waving  his  sword  and  cheer 
ing,  a  bullet  struck  him  just  to  the  right  of  his  belt  clasp, 
passed  through  it,  and  lodged  in  his  body,  knocking  him 
down  and  sending  his  blade  flying.  After  he  fell,  his  first 
words  were :  "Hand  me  my  sword."  Placing  him  hurriedly 
behind  two  trees,  his  comrades  went  rushing  on  to  assist 
in  the  capture  of  a  rebel  battery,  and  when  they  returned 
to  that  spot  they  found  he  had  recrossed  the  river,  although 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  75 

how  he  ever  managed  to  get  over  no  one  knew.  He  was 
conveyed  to  the  field  hospital  and  while  lying  there  beside 
Colonel  Scott  the  Surgeon  came  and  examined  the  latter, 
saying,  " You're  all  right;"  then  turning  to  Wood,  he  added, 
" I  wish  I  could  say  as  much  for  you."  Poor  Wood  passed 
away  on  the  following  Sunday,  endeared  to  every  member 
not  only  of  his  gallant  company,  but  to  all  in  the  Nineteenth, 
for  he  was  an  officer  of  merit  and  a  gentleman.  The  body 
was  taken  to  his  late  home,  was  buried  in  Moline  Cemetery 
with  military  honors,  and  on  the  monument  which  marks 
his  earthly  resting  place  one  may  read:  "He  died  for  his 
Country." 

There  were  no  fewer  than  four  Captains  of  Company  I, 
as  follows:  Bushrod  B.  Howard,  who  was  killed  September 
17,  1861,  in  a  railroad  accident  of  which  we  shall  have  more 
to  say  hereafter;  Charles  H.  Shepley,  promoted  from  First 
Lieutenant  of  Company  K  October  18,  1861,  and  who  also 
met  his  death  by  accident,  March  23,  1862,  as  will  be  shown 
further  along;  John  R.  Madison,  who  resigned  December 

19,  1862,  and   James  Longhorn,  who  was  in  command  of 
the  company  when  we  were  mustered  out.     The  First  Lieu 
tenants  of  Company  I  were:     Drum,  who  resigned  October 

20,  1861;  Madison,  promoted;  Longhorn,    promoted,    and 
William  Quinton.     The  Second  Lieutenants   were:     Madi 
son,   twice   promoted;    Quinton,    promoted;    Dickerson    B. 
Morehouse,  promoted  from  Fourth  Sergeant,  a  soldier  who 
was  never  absent  from  his  company  from  start   to  finish 
although  ordered  to  the  hospital  twice,  and  was  still  with  it 
when  we  were  finally  mustered  out. 

Company  K  had  but  one  Captain,  and  he  "Pres" 
Guthrie,  First  Lieutenant  of  the  Zouave  Company  B  of  the 
Cairo  Expedition.  Its  First  Lieutenants  were:  Shepley, 
promoted  to  be  Captain  of  I  Company,  and  Cornelius  V. 
Lamberson,  who  held  that  rank  and  office  when  the  Reg- 


76  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

iment  ended  its  days  of  service.  He  had  been  promoted 
from  Second  Lieutenant  October  20,  1861.  The  Sergeant 
Major,  V.  Bradford  Bell,  was  promoted  to  fill  this  vacancy. 

THE  MEN  IN  THE  RANKS. 

Having  thus  accounted  for  Field,  Staff,  and  Line  Officers, 
we  come  to  those  who  were  in  the  ranks  of  the  Nineteenth 
from  first  to  last.  At  the  time  of  our  muster  in  for  three 
years — June  17,  1861, — we  had  911  men,  divided  up  as  fol 
lows:  Company  A,  94;  Company  B,  100;  Company  C,  96; 
Company  D,  101;  Company  E,  83;  Company  F,  73;  Com 
pany  G,  78;  Company  H,  96;  Company  I,  91;  Company  K, 
99 — total,  911.  Of  recruits  we  gathered  in  234  in  three 
years,  making  a  giand  total  of  1,145.  Only  333,  or  a  little 
moie  than  one-third,  returned  to  Chicago  to  be  mustered 
out  July  9,  1864.  It  must  be  noted,  however  that  eady  in 
January,  1863,  Company  G,  comprising  then  69  men,  be 
came  an  artillery  company,  and  that,  when  we  started  home 
153  of  our  recruits,  with  quite  a  number  of  thos?  who  re-en 
listed  as  Veterans,  were  transfeired  to  other  organizations. 
Thus  it  happened  that  the  Nineteenth  was  represented  in 
the  Grand  Review  at  Washington,  concerning  which  unpar 
alleled  spectacle  we  shall  have  more  to  say  before  this  work 
is  completed.  The  rosters  of  all  the  Non-Commissioned 
Officers  and  Privates  of  the  Regiment  during  the  entire 
term  of  service  follows. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 
NON-COMMISSIONED    STAFF. 


77 


NAME  AND  RANK.      RESIDENCE. 


ENLISTED. 


REMARKS. 


SERGEANTS  MAJOR. 
Bangs,  Lester  G.       Chicago 
Bell,  V.  Bradford 
Curtis,  William  B. 
McDowell,  Saml.  H. 
Sackett,  William 

Q.  M.  SERGEANTS. 
Downs,  Hylor  A. 
Haverty,  Robt,  E. 

COMMIS.  SERGEANTS. 
Bush,  Hiram 
White,  Lyman  A. 

HOSPITAL  STEWARDS. 
Matteson,  H.  C. 
Pashley,  John  H. 

Spaulding,  D.  L. 
PRINCIPAL  MUSICIANS. 
Moore,  James  H. 
Nevins,  William 
Sherman,  Nathan 


June  17,  1861 


Nov.  18,  1861 
June  17,  1861 


Prom.  Adjt,  Aug.  22,  '62 
Prom,  to  2d  Lt,  in  Co.  K 
Prom,  to  2d  Lt,  in  Co.  A 
Turned  over  for  transfer 
Transferred  to  Co.  A 


June  21,  1861     Turned  over  for  transfer 
June  17,  1861     Reduced,  trans,  to  Co.  A 

Must,  out  Aug.  9,  1864 
Transferred  to  Co.  G 


July  11,  1861 
June  17,  1861 


Turned  over  for  transfer 
Dis.  for  prom,   to  Ass't 

Surg.  51st  Illinois 
Dis.  Nov.  24,  1862 


SERGEANTS. 
Beatty,  Thomas 
Calhoun,  Wm.  A. 
Curtis,  Wm.  B. 
Ranney,  Chas.  L. 
Sackett;  Wm. 

CORPORALS. 
Bishop,  Geo.  W. 


Chicago 


Dis.  Jan.  12,  1863 

June  13,  1862     Turned  over  for  transfer 
June  17,  1861     Dis.  May  8,  1863 

COMPANY  A. 

June  17,  1861     Prom,  to  2d  Lieut. 

Prom,  to  2d  Lt,  in  Co.  D 
Prom,  to  2d  Lieut. 
Reduced 
Reduced 


Prom.    Sergt,  and  to  2d 
Lt.  in  Co.  G 


78 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  A— Continued. 


NAME  AND  RANK.  RESIDENCE 


ENLISTED. 


REMARKS. 


CORPORALS. 
Cleonewerck,  D.  C.    Chicago 

Cole,  Theodore 
Danks,  Albert  W. 
Harker,  Thos.  R. 

Phillips,  Geo.  II. 
Vail,  Nicholas 

Wildcy,  Wm.  H. 


PRIVATES. 
Ambrose,  David  E. 

Ambrose,  Mortimer 

Anderson,  Henry 
Bangs,  Lester  G. 
Berg,  George 
Bloomfield,  James 
Bristol,  Wm.  H. 
Burton,  Wm.  C. 
Cherry,  John  P. 

Clay,  John  P. 
Denmead,  Henry 
Dietrich,  Henry 
Dustin,  E.  P. 
Edgell,  John  H. 
Ellis,  George  C. 

Fergus,  John  Q. 
Finch,  William 


June  17,  1861 


Killed    at    Chickamauga 
Sept.  20,  1863 

Reduced 

Disch.  Jan.  1,  1863 

Dis.  Dec.  4,  1862,  on  ac 
count  of  wounds 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Disch.  Apr.  21,  1864,  for 
promotion. 

Prom.  Sergt.  detached 
as  1st  Lt,  U.  S.  C.  T. 
Aug.  17,  1863 

Disch.    Sept.    20,    1862, 

disability 

Disch.  Feb.  6,  1863,  dis 
ability 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Prom.  Sergt.  Maj. 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Deserted  Sept.  15,  1862 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Died  April  30,  1863,  of  an 

accident 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Trans,  to  58th  111.  Inf. 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Disch.  Sept.  21,  1863, 

disability 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 


Capt.  David  F.  Bremner,  Co.  E. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  A — Continued. 


79 


NAME  AND  RANK. 


RESIDENCE. 


ENLISTED. 


REMARKS. 


PRIVATES. 
Fitch,  Geo.  W.          Chicago 

Flagg,  Chas.  T. 
Gaffney,  James 
Cassette,  N.  T. 
Geggie,  John 
Goodrich,  H.  P. 
Graives,  Anth. 
Hagman,  Jacob 

Hanley,  Thos. 
Harvie,  Clar.  A. 

Hedges,  James 
Hills,  Robert  B. 

Hohn,  David  F. 
Holmes,  Devillo  L. 

Johnston,  Henry 
Keebles,  Burr  B. 

Kennedy,  Michael 
Lane,  Charles 

Latting,  Wm.  W.  " 

Lee,  Timothy 

McElhose,  James 


McFarland,  Geo.  M. 


June  17,  1861       Disch.  Sept.  13,  1863,  for 

promotion 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Deserted  Sept.  15,  1862 
Deserted  July  20,  1861 
Discharged  Feb.  26,  1863 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

as  Sergt. 
Died  at  Huntsville;  Ala., 

July  21,  1862,  wounds 
Trans.   Sig.    Corps  Aug. 

23,  1862,  as  Corp. 
Deserted  Feb.  9,  1863 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

as  Sergt, 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Killed    at    Stone    River 

Jan.  2,  1863 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Died    at    Murfreesboro, 

Jan.  22,  1863 
Trans,  to  Inv.  Cor.  Sept. 

30,  1863 
Killed  at  Richland  Creek, 

Term.,  Aug.  27,  1862 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Died  at  Elizabethtown 

Nov.  5,  1861 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864, 

trans,  to  Co.  C  June  17, 

1861 
Died  at  Nashville,  June 

25,  1863 


80 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  A — Continued. 


NAME  AND  RANK.        RESIDENCE. 


ENLISTED. 


REMARKS. 


PRIVATES. 
Mclntyre,  John 

McLean,  James 

Mann,  Charles  C. 
Massey,  Hugh 
Metcalf,  Fred  W. 

Mulvey,  Chris.  A. 
Myers,  Samuel  H. 
Pease,  Ira  A. 

Phiefer,  Nicholas 
Powers,  Pierce 
Powley,  John  R. 
Reiter,  Albert 
Richardson,  J.  W. 

Sh inkle,  James 

Smith,  John  F.  S. 
Smith,  Lewis  E. 

Spahn,  Joseph 

Stewart,  James 
Stickney,  Al.  O. 
Sylvester,  Ros.  G. 

Sylvester,  Gushing 

Townsley,  Ed. 
Trueman,  Geo.  S. 
Tuthill,  Chas.  H. 
Ultra  an,  James  T. 


Chicago  June  17,  1861       Died       at       Tullahoma, 

Term.,  July  21,  1863 
Prom.   Corp.,  must,  out 

July  9,  1864 
Deserted  Nov.  1,  1861 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Killed    near     Lafayette, 

Ga.,  Sept.  11,  1863 
Discharged  Oct.  8,    1863 
Discharged  Oct.  30,  1861 
Killed    at    Stone    River, 

Jan.  2,  1863 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Deserted  Dec.  3,  1861 
Dis.  Sept.   13,   1863,  for 

promotion. 
"  On   detached   service   at 

Must,  out 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Dis.  Mar.  21,  1863,  dis 
ability 
In    Military    Prison    at 

Must,  out 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Detached  as  2d  Lt,  U.  S. 

C.  T. 

Dis.  Oct.  30,   1861,  dis 
ability 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
"  Died  at  home  Jan.  11,  '63 

Dis.  Apr.  20,  '63,  wounds 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  A— Continued. 


81 


NAME  AND  RANK.         RESIDENCE. 

ENLISTED. 

REMARKS. 

PRIVATES. 

Van  Brunt,  Wm.  H.    Chicago 

June  17,  1861 

Must,  out   July  9,  1864 

Vrocland,  John 

u 

Must,   out   July  9,  1864 

as  1st  Sergt. 

Wainwright,  H.  S. 

u 

Dis.  Oct.  30,    1861,    dis 

ability 

Warner,  Charles  J, 

" 

Killed    at    Chickamauga 

Sept,  20,  1863 

Waters,  Geo.  M. 

" 

Must,    out   July  9,   1864 

as  Corporal 

Watson,  John  T. 

u 

Must,    out   July  9,  1864 

as   Corporal 

Werden,  Samuel 

u 

Must,  out  Oct.  5,  1864 

Wheeler,  Ed.  G. 

a 

Dis.   Feb.   22,    1864,   for 

promotion 

Williams,  Daniel 

u 

Left  at  Chattanooga 

Wilson,  William 

it 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Worth,  William 

i. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

RECRUITS. 

• 

Blanchard,  R.  P. 

Nov.  6,  1861 

Absent,  sick  at  Must,  out 

Brackett,  Chas.  E. 

June  21,  1864 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Clark,  Jos.  P. 

June  17,  1861 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Cline,  John                 Niles 

Dec.  22,  1863 

Turned  over  for  transfer 

Cone,  Albert              Chicago 

Dec.  19,  1863 

Turned  over  for  transfer 

Curran,  John 

Dec.  28,  1861 

Deserted  Sept.  15,  1862 

Deal,  George  H. 

Sept.  30,  1861 

Turned  over  for  transfer 

Fergus,  Robert  G. 

Aug.  13,  1862 

Turned  over  for  transfer 

Garret!  ,  Geo.  W. 

June  27,  1861 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Gilbert,  Wm.  H. 

Sept.  25,  1861 

Must,  out  April  12,  1865 

Glendon,  John 

Mar.  20,  1862 

Turned  over  for  transfer 

Griffis,  Win.  H. 

June  27,  1861 

Dis.  Oct.  20,  1863 

Hanrety,  Robt,  E. 

June  14,  1862 

Trans,     to     Inv.     Corps 

Nov.  6,  1863 

Harrison,  Win.  H. 

Feb.  5,  1864 

Turned  over  for  transfer 

Kercheval,  Alex.W. 

June  17,  1862 

Trans,  to  Dresser's  Bat, 

Lt.  Art. 

82 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  A — Continued. 


NAME  AND  RANK. 

RESIDENCE. 

ENLISTED. 

REMARKS. 

RECRUITS. 

Kerr,  Charles 

Chicago 

June  17,  1862 

Died  at  Nashville,   Feb. 

3,  1863,  wounds 

Leonard,  Thos. 

n 

Mar.  20,  1862 

Deserted  Dec.  20,  1862 

Moor,  Thos.  A. 

u 

Sept,  24,  1861 

Killed    at    Stone    River, 

Dec.  31,  1862 

Murray,  Jas.  P. 

11 

June  27,  1861 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

McGuire,  M.  S. 

11 

Nov.  12,  1861 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

McKay,  William 

11 

Oct.  1,  1861 

Turned  over  for  transfer 

Nevins,  William 

" 

June  13,  1862 

Promoted  Drum  Major 

Price,  Wm.  H. 

u 

July  12,  1861 

Turned  over  for  transfer 

Sampson,  Robt,  R. 

" 

July  12,  1861 

Turned  over  for  transfer 

Shine,  George 

Bremen 

Dec.  14,  1863 

Trans,  to  Co.  D,  60th  111. 

Inf. 

Slagle,  Jos.  L. 

Chicago 

July  12,  1861 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Stewart,  A.  C. 

a 

Nov.  3,  1863 

Turned  over  for  transfer 

Ultz,  George 

« 

June  18,  1861 

Killed    at    Stone    River, 

. 

Jan.  2,  1863 

Vahl,  August 

Palestine 

Dec.  23,  1863 

Turned  over  for  transfer 

Vaulkman,  G. 

Niles 

Dec.  22,  1862 

Turned  over  for  transfer 

Ward,  Robert 

Chicago 

Deserted  Apr.  20,  1862 

Wheeler,  Chas.  S. 

a 

Sept.  24,  1861 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Winslow,  Z. 

a 

Trans,  to  58th  111.  Inf. 

COMPANY  B. 

SERGEANTS. 
Boardman,  J.  G.        Elmira  June  17,  1861     Must,    out   July  9,  1864 

as  Private 
Prom.  1st  Sergt.  then  2d 

Lt. 

Prom.  2d  Lt. 
Dis.  Mar.  13,  1862,  dis 
ability 
"  Prom.  Hospital  Steward 


Hunter,  John  H. 

Jackson,  William 

Mantooth,  Jas.          Stark  Co. 

Pashley,  John  S.        Elmira 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  B — Continued. 


83 


NAME  AND  RANK.      RESIDENCE. 

ENLISTED.                              REMARKS. 

CORPORALS. 

Blanchard,  Jos.          Elmira 

June  17,  1861     Must,  out   July  9,    1864 

as  Private 

Brace,  Chas.  H.         Stark  Co. 

Dis.  June  20,  1862,  dis 

ability 

Hutchinson,  Geo.      Stark  Co. 

Dis.     Nov.    3,    1862    as 

Private,  disability 

Jackson,  James          Elmira 

Prom.    1st  Sergt.,   killed 

near  Dalton,  Ga.,  Feb. 

23,  1864 

Lamper,  John  G.       Stark  Co. 

Dis.    Oct.    4,     1861      as 

Private,  disability 

Robinson,  Thos.        Elmira 

Prom.  Sergt,  Dis.  Feb.  6. 

1863,  wounds 

Thornton,  J.  T. 

Prom.  Sergt,  then  2d  Lt, 

Turnbull,  Robt.  A.    Elmira 

Must,  out   July  9,    1864 

as  1st  Sergt, 

MUSICIANS. 

Bates,  Isaiah  N.        Toulon 

Must,    out   July  9,  1864 

as  Private 

Spencer,  Isaac  M.     Stark  Co. 

Must,    out   July  9,   1864 

as  Private 

WAGONER. 

Dough  s,  John 

Must,    out   July  9,   1864 

as  Private 

PRIVATES. 

Adams,  John  Q.         Elmira 

Must,    out   July  9,   1864 

as  Sergt, 

Aldrich,  David  N.           " 

Dis.  Sept.   4,    1861,   dis 

ability 

Allen,  David 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Atherton,  Jas. 

June  18,  1861     Trans,  to  Co.  C 

Banister,  Isaac           Stark  Co. 

June  17,  1861     Dis.   Nov.   5,    1861,   dis 

ability 

Blackburn,  John 

Dis.  Nov.  19,   1861,  dis 

ability 

84 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  B— Continued. 


NAME  AND  RANK.       RESIDENCE. 


ENLISTED. 


REMARKS. 


PRIVATES. 
Blackwell,  Chas.        Elmira 

Bloom,  Fred  P. 
Bourke,  John 
Bullis,  Saml.  D. 

Burrows,  Henry 

Cade,  William  A. 
Chamberlain,  D.  F. 

Cinnamon,  Jas. 

Clark,  Walter 

Courier,  A.  T.  Stark  Co. 

Cowdon,  FrancJs 
Cowdon,  George 

Curlin,  Owen 

Cuse,  Julius  A.  Elmira 

Davidson,  H.  F.        Stark  Co. 

Douglas,  Wm. 

Drawyer,  L.  C.          Elmira 

Drury,  Henry 

Dugan,  George          Toulon 

Duncan,  Jason  G.     Stark  Co. 

Erwin,  Edward 
Fell,  Adam  G. 


June  17,  1861     Died      in     Chattanooga 
Oct.  14,  1863,  wounds 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Dishonorable  discharge 
June  18,  1861     Dis.  Mar.  15,  1863,  dis 
ability 

June  17,  1861     Died  Louisville,  Apr.  9, 
1862 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864, 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864, 
as  Sergt. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864, 
as  Corp. 

Trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps 
Sept.  30,  1863 

Dis.  Oct.  4,   1861,  disa 
bility 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Dis.  Nov.  30,  1862,  dis 
ability 

Died,  Nashville,  Oct.  31, 
1862 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Dis.  Oct.  4,   1861,  disa 
bility 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
June  18,  1861  Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
June  17,  1861  Dis.  Feb.  28,  '63,  wounds 

Dis.   Nov.   5,    1861,    dis 
ability 

Wounded  at  Dalton,  Ga., 
Feb.  27,  1864,  missing 

Dis.   Nov.   25,    1862    to 
re-enlist 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  B — Continued. 


85 


NAME  AND  RANK.       RESIDENCE. 


ENLISTED. 


REMARKS. 


PRIVATES. 
Flemming,  W.  H.      Stark  Co. 

Galley,  Phillip  S.       Toulon 

Galley,  Springer 

Gardiner,  Reub.         Stark  Co. 

Greenfield,  Chas. 

Hall,  Wesley  Palestine 

Harsh,  Chester  P.     Elmira 

Hurment,  A.  S.          Stark  Co. 

Hutchins,  Jas. 
Imes,  James  O. 

Ingles,  William          Elmira 


Johnson,  Wm. 
Jordan,  E(f.  M. 

Kempin,  Arnold 
Kennedy,  John  L. 


Toulon 
Elmira 

Stark  Co. 
Elmira 


Kenyon,  Isaac  Stark  Co. 

Lamper,  John  M. 
Leason,  Chas.  N. 

Luce,  Alonzo 
Mantooth,  Sam 
Meigs,  Jos.  C. 
Merrill,  Jas. 
Miller,  George 


June  17  ,1861     Diss  Jan.  20,   1863,   dis 
ability 
June  18,  1861     Trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps 

Jan.  25,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,    1864 

as  Corp. 

Dis.  Nov.  30,  1861,  dis 
ability 

Dis.  Nov.  19, '61,  wounds 
Transfrered  to  Co.  C. 
June  17,  1861      Corp.  Died  at  Murfrees- 

boro,  April  11,  1863 
Dis.    Feb.    6,    1862,    dis 
ability 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Killed    at    Stone    River, 

Dec.  31,  1862 
Died  at  Nashville,  Sept. 

18,  1862 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Sergt.    died    at    Chatta 
nooga  Oct.  5,  1863 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,    out  July  9,    1864 

as  Sergt. 
Killed    at    Stone    River 

Dec.  30,  1862 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Killed    at    Stone    River 

Dec.  31,  1862 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
June  18,  1861  Must,  out  Sept.  27,  1864 


86 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  B— Continued. 


NAME  AND  RANK.         RESIDENCE. 

ENLISTED. 

REMARKS. 

PRIVATES. 

Moon,  Daniel  J.        Stark  Co. 

June  17,  1861 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Morgan,  Comfort            " 

" 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Morgan,  Cornel. 

June  18,  1861 

Died  at  Pilot  Knob,  Mo., 

Sept,  15,  1861 

Morgan,  Columbus 

tt 

Died     at     Murfreesboro 

Jan.  7,  1863,  wounds 

McSherry,  John 

a 

Transferred  to  Co.  C 

Nelson,  Wm.  N.              " 

1C 

Absent,  detached  at  Mus 

ter  out 

Newcombe,  W.  H.    Toulon 

i( 

Dis.  July  31,   1862,   dis 

ability 

Pask,  Joseph  F.         Stark  Co. 

u 

Absent,       detached       at 

Must,  out 

Richer,  Geo.  P. 

tt 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Ryerson,  Geo.  N.             " 

(I 

Corp.,    killed    at    Stone 

River,  Jan.  2,  1863 

Scott,  Robt.  T.          Elmira 

(( 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Sharrer,  Geo.  T.        Stark  Co. 

11 

Wounded  at  Stone  River 

Dec.  31,  1862,  missing 

Shull,  Henry  C. 

u 

Dis.    July   8,    1862,    dis 

ability 

Spaulding,  J.  O. 

" 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Stone,  Geo.  H.           Toulon 

June  18,  1861 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Terwilliger,  Al.          Stark  Co. 

June  17,  1861 

Transferred  to  Co.  D 

Terwilliger,  E.  N. 

June  18,  1861 

Transferred  to  Co.  D 

Turnbull,  Thos. 

June  17,  1861 

Dis.  Feb.  8,  '63,  wounds 

Vinson,  Amos                  " 

a 

Trans,    to  Vet,    Res.  C 

Nov.  1,  1863 

Way,  Edwin  D. 

June  18,  1861 

Dis.  July  31,   1862,  dis 

ability 

Webber,  John 

June  17,  1861 

Dis.  Jan.  28,    1863,  dis 

ability 

Williams,  L. 

a 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Worth,  Henry  B.       Elmira 

June  18,  1861 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864, 

as  Sergt, 

THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  B — Continued. 


87 


NAME  AND  RANK. 

RESIDENCE. 

ENLISTED. 

REMARKS. 

RECRUITS. 

Adams,  S.  W. 

Moline 

Oct.  15,  1861 

Deserted  Sept,  5,  1862 

Bell,  Charles  S. 

Chicago 

June  22,  1861 

Dis.  Oct.  4,   1861,   disa 

bility 

Clark,  Asai 

Star    Co. 

Sept.  25,  1861 

Dis.    Nov.    25,    1862,    to 

re-enlist 

Comstock,  Geo. 

" 

July  8,  1861 

Died   at   Louisville   Oct. 

29,  1861 

Coon,  Adrian 

Elmira 

Aug.  25,  1861 

Deserted  July  9,  1862 

Coon,  Urban 

Stark  Co. 

" 

Must,  out  Sept,  20,  1864 

Corsan,  Lewis 

" 

June  27,  1861 

Dis.  Sept.  4,   1861,  dis 

ability 

Fell,  Robert 

Toulon 

Sept.  10,  1862 

Dis.   Nov.   25,    1862,    to 

re-enlist 

George,  A.  N. 

Lee  Co. 

June  18,  1862 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Hall,  Charles 

Chicago 

Nov.  12,  1862 

Trans,    to    H'dq'rs  14th, 

Ar.  Cor. 

Henderson,  L.  D. 

Stark  Co. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Horrigan,  F. 

Elmira 

June  18,  1862 

Killed  at  Pulaski,  Tenn. 

May  2,  1862 

Hunt,  Joseph  R. 

Lee  Co. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Imes,  John 

Elmira 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Imes,  Martin 

n 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

as  Corp. 

Imes,  William 

it 

Oct.  15,  1862 

Killed  at  Reynolds  Sta 

tion,  Aug.  27,  1862 

Jackson,  David 

Osceola 

Sept.  10,  1862 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs,  14th 

Army  Corps' 

Johnson,  A.  T. 

Kewanee 

Oct.  18,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Jordan,  Willard 

Stark  Co. 

Nov.  3,  1861 

Killed    at   Chickamauga 

Sept,  20,  1863 

Kennedy,  Pat 

Chicago 

a 

Must,  out  Nov.  2,  1864 

Leacox,  Jos.  M. 

Sept,  10,  1862 

Trans,  to  Vet,  Res.  Corps 

Sept.  30,  1863 

Linsley,  M. 

Stark  Co. 

Missing  since  June  16,  '62 

McConchie.  John 

Must,  out  June,  1865 

88 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  B — Continued. 


NAME  AND  RANK.         RESIDENCE. 


ENLISTED. 


REMARKS. 


RECRUITS. 
Oziah,  Thos.  W. 

Peebles,  Robt. 

Quinn,  William 
Thornton,  N.  M. 
Turnbull,  Jas.  G. 

Whitaker,  F.  H. 
Yeomans,  D.  L. 

COOK. 
Pierce,  Frank 


SERGEANTS. 
Chase,  Ira  J. 

Dye,  Horace  D. 
Morse,  R.  B. 


Quint  on,  Wm. 
Wood,  Wash.  L. 

CORPORALS. 
Bickford,  Thos.  J. 

Dauphin,  Wm. 

Filkins,  Ed.  A. 
Gray,  Arthur  F. 
Keith,  Cyrus  E. 
Morse,  Albert 


Toulon 
Chicago 


Kewanee 
Stark  Co. 

Toulon 
Lee  Co. 


Chicago 


Chicago 


Palatine 
a 

Chicago 


July  8,  1861        Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

Army  Corps 
Mar.  2,  1862      Trans,  to  H'd'qu'trs  14th 

Army  Corps 
Mar.  9,  1864      Must,  out  June  12,  1865 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Sept.  10,  1862    Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

Army  Corps 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Mar.  10,  1863    Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

Ar.  Co.  Corps 
COMPANY  C. 

June  17,  1861     Dis.    Nov.   7,    1862,   dis 
ability 

Reduced  and  trans,  to 
53d  111.  Inf. 

Dis.  Oct.  22,  1861,  for 
promotion  1st  Lt. 
53d  111. 

Prom.  2d  Lt,  Co.  I 

Dis.  July  31,  1862,  dis 
ability 

-  \ 

Dis.    Jan.    15,     1862    as 

Private,  disability 
"  Must,  out  July  9,    1864 

as  Private 

Prom.  Sergt.  then  2d  Lt. 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Prom.  Serg.  then  2d  Lt, 
Dis.    Dec.    5,     1861     as 
Sergt.,  disability 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  C  —  Continued. 


89 


NAME  AND  RANK.         RESIDENCE. 


ENLISTED. 


REMARKS. 


CORPORALS. 
Sawyer,  Ed.  M. 

Sawyer,  Wm.  E. 


Chicago 


PRIVATES. 

Applebee,  Frank  Harrington 

Baldwin,  J.  W.  Palatine 

Baltazer,  L.  Cook  Co. 

Battis,  Wilkins  M.  Barrington 


Beegan,  John 
Bernier,  Alfred 

Billings,  John 
Borkvort,  P. 


Kankakee 

Richmond 
Chicago 


Boyd,  Robert 

Carpenter,  W.  R.      Palatine 


Coleman,  Miles 
Craft,  Delavan 


Chicago 


Green,  William 

Daniels,  Webster  Elk  Grove 

Davis,  James  A.  Barrington 

Deniol,  Marcellus  Palatine 


DeWait,  William 
Duffy,  John 
Edwards,  Chas. 


June  17,  1861 


St.  Louis,  Mo. 


Must,  out    July  9,    1864 

as  1st  Sergt. 
Dis.     Apr.    6,    1863     as 

Sergt.,  disability 

Must,    out   July  9,  1864 

as  Corporal 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  June  8,  1865 
Dis.  Sept.  15,  1863,  dis 
ability 

Deserted  July  12,  1863 
Must,  out    July  9,    1864 

as  Sergt. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Died  at  Stone  River,  Feb. 

26,  1863,  wounds 
Deserted  July  12,  1863 
Must,    out  July  9,    1864 

as  Sergt. 
Must,    out    July  9,  1864 

as  Sergt. 
Must,    out    July  9,  1864 

as  Corporal 

Deserted  Dec.  14,  1862 
Dis.    Apr.    9,    1863,    dis 
ability 

Killed  at   Tuscumbia, 
Ala.,  Apr.  19,  1862 
Must,    out   July  9,  1864 

as  Corporal. 
Deserted  July  12,  1801 
Deserted  July  12,  1861 
Dis.  Mar.  23,  1863,  dis 
ability 


90 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  C — Continued. 


NAME  AND  RANK.       RESIDENCE. 


ENLISTED. 


REMARKS. 


PRIVATES. 

England,  John  Chicago 
Farrington,  S.  L. 

Frome,  Robert 

Gates,  Phineas  P.  Richmond 

Glennan,  Jas.  Chicago 

Goldsmith,  Jas.  M.  Cook  Co. 

Gravson,  John  Danton 

Handy,  Jas.  L.  Kankakee 

Harrison,  Bela  Marshall 

Homer,  Henry  Cook  Co. 

Hutchings,  C.  A.  Palatine 

Idear,  Charles  Cook  Co. 

Kay,  John 
Kelley,  James 

Kellogg,  Hiram  Richmond 

Letton,  August  Cook  Co. 

Lincoln,  Fayall  Palatine 

Magill,  James  Cook  Co. 

Martin,  Miles  Wheaton 

McElhose,  J.  C.  Danton 


June  17,  1861     Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Dis.  Nov.  5,  1861,  disa 
bility 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

as  Corporal 
"  Must,   out  July  9,    1864 

as   Corporal 
"  Must,   out   July  9,    1864 

as  Corporal 
Dis.  July  6,  1862 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Dis.  Aug.  25,  1861 
Re-enlisted  as    Veteran 
Dis.    May   7,    1863,    dis 
ability 

Dis.   Nov.   5,    1861,   dis 
ability 
Corp.,  killed  at  Chicago, 

June  17,  1864 
Deserted  Mar.  18,  1862 
Killed    at    Chickamauga 

Sept.  20,  1863 
Must,    out    July  9,  1864 

as  Sergt, 

Deserted  June  16,  1862 
Dis.    Nov.    5,     1861     as 

Corporal,  disability 
Dis.  Dec.  22,   1862,  dis 
ability 

Must,  out  June  9,  1865 
"  Trans,  to  Co.  A.,  Must, 

out  July  9,  1864 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  C — Continued. 


91 


NAME  AND  RANK. 

RESIDENCE. 

ENLISTED.                             REMARKS. 

PRIVATES. 

McDonald,  Jas. 

Richmond 

June  17,  1S61     Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

McGregor,  John 

Chicago 

Dis.   Nov.   5,    1861,   dis 

ability 

McKeeby,  Edward 

Cook  Co. 

Absent,  sick,  at  Must,  out 

McKeeby,  Jas. 

Chicago 

Trans,     to     Inv.     Corps 

July  1,  1863 

Ramage,  Wm.  J. 

Philadelphia 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Rogers,  James 

Cook  Co. 

Deserted  Aug.  10,  1862 

Sayles,  Geo.  C. 

Palatine 

Trans,  to  Sig.  Corps  Get, 

26,  1863 

Schriner,  Felix 

Chicago 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Scott,  Daniel 

Deserted  July  25,  1861 

Sequin,  Frank 

Kankakee 

Must,  out  Apr.  25,  1865 

Somers,  Jas. 

Chicago 

Dis.   Get.  30,    1861,   dis 

ability 

Sparr,  Martin 

Deserted  July  12,  1861 

Sweezy,  Henry 

Palatine 

Corp.,     died     at     Stone 

River,  Jan.  3,  '63,  w'ds 

Tabor,  John 

Richmond 

Killed    at    Chickamauga 

Sept.  20,  1863 

Tanley,  Mark 

« 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Taylor,  Rich. 

Palatine 

Dis.  July  31,   1862,    dis 

ability 

Tobell,  Joseph 

it 

Dis.     Apr.    16,    1864    as 

Corporal,  disability 

Towey,  John 

Deserted  July  12,  1861 

Walker,  Albert  D. 

Richmond 

Deserted  Aug.  14,  1861 

Weinand,  Peter 

Deserted  July  12,  1861 

Wilkinson,  Job 

u 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Wilson,  Chas.  S. 

Chicago 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

as  Corporal 

Winslow,  Zeb.  R. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

as  Corporal 

Wisman,  Fred. 

Palatine 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

92 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  C— Continued. 


NAME  AND  BANK. 

RESIDENCE. 

ENLISTED. 

REMARKS. 

PRIVATES. 

Wood,  Thos.  B. 

Palatine 

June  17,  1861 

Dis.  Mar.   1,   1863,  dis 

ability 

Woods,  Jas. 

Wheeling 

« 

Dis.  Mar.  26,  1863,  dis 

ability 

Young,  Jacob 

Chicago 

" 

Missing  in  action  at  Tus- 

cumbia,  Apr.  24,  1862 

Young,  Lewis 

Cook  Co. 

a 

Deserted  July  22,  1862 

VETERANS. 

Hall,  Wesley 

Palatine 

Dec.  21,  1863 

Turned  over  for  transfer 

Harrison,  Bela 

Chicago 

Mar.  8,  1864 

Transferred  to  60th  111. 

Hennesy,  Mich. 

Cook  Co. 

Dec.  21,  1863 

Turned  over  for  transfer 

Maude,  John 

Woodstock 

Jan.  12,  1864 

Turned  over  for  transfer 

Muldoon,  Anth. 

Chicago 

Mar.  21,  1864 

Transferred  to  60th  111. 

RECRUITS. 

Atherton,  Jas. 

Chicago 

June  17,  1861 

Dis.  Oct.  30,   1861,  dis 

ability 

Baldwin,  Ith.  P. 

Palatine 

June  25,  1861 

Dis.  Jan.  27,   1864,  dis 

ability 

Bassett,  Geo. 

Woodstock 

Sept.  25,  1861 

Must,  out  Sept.  24,  1864 

Bowe,  John 

Chicago 

June  18,  1861 

Dis.  July  31,   1862,   dis 

ability 

Burns,  Andrew 

u 

a 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

as  Corporal 

Buxton,  Spencer  S. 

Palatine 

Sept.  25,  1861 

Dis.  July  21,   1862,   dis 

ability 

Crusen,  G.  K. 

Cook  Co. 

June  25,  1861 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Davis,  Henry  C. 

Cincinnati 

July  6,  1861 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Flinn,  Michael 

Cook  Co. 

June  18,  1861 

Deserted  June  9,  1862 

Fowler,  L.  A. 

Chicago 

June  25,  1861 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Gould,  George 

Palatine 

Sept,  25,  1861 

Corp.,  died  Nov.  28,  1863 

of  wounds  received  at 

Missionary  Ridge 

Hall,  Wesley 

Palatine 

June  18,  1861 

Veteran 

Hennesy,  M. 

Cook  Co. 

July  6,  1861 

Re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  C — Continued. 


93 


NAME  AND  RANK. 

RESIDENCE. 

ENLISTED. 

REMARKS. 

RECRUITS. 

Holt,  Calvin  C. 

Kewanee 

July  6,  1861 

Must,  out  July  9,    1864 

as  Sergt, 

Ivis,  John 

Chicago 

Sept.  25,  1861 

Dis.  Feb.  24,   1863,    dis 

ability 

James,  Wm.  T. 

Muscat!  ne 

July  6,  1861 

Dis.   Mar.    1,    1863,    dis 

ability 

Kelly,  John 

Chicago 

Mar.  20,  1861 

Dis.  Mar.  19,  1863,    dis 

ability 

Kennedy,  Anth. 

a 

June  25,  1861 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Lee,  E.  R, 

Cook  Co. 

June  18,  1861 

Deserted  March,  1862 

Muldoon,  Anth. 

Chicago 

Mar.  20,  1862 

Re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Maude,  John 

Woodstock 

Sept,  25,  1861 

Re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

McSherry,  Jas. 

Kewanee 

June  25,  1861 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Moore,  Peter 

Chicago 

June  18,  1861 

Deserted  July  6,  1862 

Morse,  James 

Cook  Co. 

u 

Deserted  Sept.  21,  1861 

Ott,  Francis 

Chicago 

July  6,  1861 

Dis.   Nov.   5,    1861,    dis 

ability 

Parker,  Chas. 

u 

June  18,  1861 

Dis.  Nov.  23,  1861,    dis 

ability 

Pratt,  Frank 

Boston,  Mass. 

" 

Must,  out  July  9,    1864 

Purdy,  Wm.  F. 

Palatine 

" 

Dis.  July  31,   1862,   dis 

ability 

Robinson,  C. 

June  25,  1861 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Rodgers,  And. 

Chicago 

Nov.  1,  1861 

Turned  over  for  transfer 

Smirnoff,  Alex. 

Ottawa 

Sept.  25,  1861 

Prom.  Corp.  and  Sergt., 

killed  Sept,   20,    1863, 

battle  Chickamauga 

Strothers,  Geo.  C. 

Chicago 

u 

Trans.  Co.  B,  15th  V.R.C. 

Topp,  August 

Barrington 

Sept.  2,  1862 

Died     at     Andersonville 

Prison    July    9,    1864, 

Grave  3,064 

Wafter,  Joseph 

Cook  Co. 

June  18,  1861 

Deserted  Aug.  9,  1861 

Williams,  John 

Chicago 

June  24,  1861 

Dis.   Nov.   5,    1861,   dis 

ability 

94 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  C— Continued. 


NAME  AND  RANK.    RESIDENCE. 


ENLISTED. 


REMARKS. 


RECRUITS. 
Wilson,  Thos.  J. 

Wiseman,  H. 
Wood,  Marshall 

COOK. 
Harris,  Robert 

SERGEANTS. 
Cunningham,  Peter 
Eames,  O.  E. 
Goldsmith,  J. 

Longley,  H.  W. 
McLaughlin.  R.  W. 
Walker,  Geo. 

CORPORALS. 
Harden,  L. 
Fellman,  M.  J. 

Fischer,  Chas. 

Harris,  L.  W. 
Haynie,  J.  Henry 
McCracken,  R. 

Smith,  J.  H. 
Taylor,  W.  B. 


Chicago  June  18,  1861     Dis.   Mar.    1,    1863,    dis 

ability 

Palatine  Dec.  13,  1861     Dis.  July  28,   1862,    dis 

ability 

Sept.  25,  1861    Dis.  Sept.  10,  1863,  dis 
ability 

Mar.  3,  1863      Turned  over  for  transfer 
COMPANY  D. 

Chicago  June  17,  1861     Prom,  to  1st  Lieut. 

Prom,  to  1st.  Lieut. 

Milwaukee  Died     at     Murfreesboro 

Dec.  31,  1862,  wounds 
Chicago  Must,  out  July  9,    1864 

as  1st  Sergt. 

Dis.   Feb.   9,    1862,   dis 
ability 

Trans.,    Must,  out   June 
17,  1864 

Philadelphia  Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

New  York  Dis.  Jan.  29,   1863,   dis 

ability 

Chicago  Dis.  April  29,  1862,  dis 

ability 

Trans,  to  Inv.  Corps 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Killed    at    Stone    River 

Jan.  2,  1863 
Dis.  Oct.  31,   1862,   dis- 

ablity 

Dis.  Mar.  20,  1863,  dis 
ability 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  D— Continued. 


95 


NAME  AND  RANK.       RESIDENCE. 


ENLISTED. 


REMARKS. 


MUSICIANS. 
Casler,  Abe 
McGregor,  J.  C. 

PRIVATES. 
Akin,  Alexander 


Chicago  June  17,  1861      Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Died    at    Ironton,    Mo., 

Aug.  28,  1861 

Allen,  George  Must,  out  July  9,  1964 

Anderson,  A.  E.  Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Armstine,  Jar.  Deserted  July  28,  1862 

Bennett,  F.  M.  Corp.,  Died  Mar.  10,  '63 

Blake,  Joseph  Deserted  June  21,    1861 

Burch,  P.  J.  Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Carter,  Henry  E.  prom.  to  2d  Lieut. 

Clifford,  Wm.  Captured  at  Chickamau- 

ga  Sept.  20,  1864 
Comly,  Adam  Dowagiac  Must,    out   July  9r  1864 

as  Sergt, 

Coyle,  James  Chicago  Re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Coyle,  Thomas  Deserted  Dec.  31,  1862 

Cunningham,  D.  Deserted  Aug.  8,  1862 

Daggy,  Hen.  Clay  Corp.,   died  Jan.  5,  1863 

of  wounds  received  at 

Stone  River 

Daly,  Patrick  Deserted  June  21,  1861 

Dennis,  C.  W.  Corp.  died  Mar.  13,  1862 

Derr,  Jackson  Corp.,  died  Mar.  29,  1862 

Eddings,  Wm.  Must,  out  Sept.  17,  1864 

Feagan,  Nich.  Deserted  Dec.  31,  1862 

Ferris,  Chas.  Re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Forbes,  C.  K.  Must,    out   July  9,  1864 

as  Sergt. 
Gates,  Henry  Elgin  Died    at    Bacon    Creek, 

Ky.,  Jan.  23,  1862 

Golden,  Thos.  Chicago  .  Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Goldsmith,  A.  Transferred  to  Co.  F 

Hannon,  Mat,  Must,  out  July  9,  1864 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  D— Continued. 


NAME  AND  RANK.       RESIDENCE. 


ENLISTED. 


REMARKS. 


PRIVATES. 
Hendricks,  J. 
Higgins,  Win. 
Hooch,  B.  F. 
Hutching,  E. 

Ingols,  Wm. 

Kelly,  Wm.  R. 
Lewis,  R. 

Long,  Wm. 
Mahar,  Wm. 
Mahoney,  Thos. 


Maloney,  John 
Marshall,  John 
Mathews,  Wm. 

McQuaid,  Ed. 
Monrax,  Luke 
Morgan,  Jas. 
O'Donnell,  Wm. 
Phillips,  Geo. 

Pierce,  Warren 
Reanish,  John 
Richards,  John 


Chicago 


June  17,  1861 


Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Deserted  Dec.  1,  1862 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Dis.  Sept.  10,  1861,  dis 
ability 

Dis.  Nov.  22,  1861,  dis 
ability 

Dropped  June  30,  1862 
Must,    out   July  9,  1864 

as  Corporal 

Deserted  Aug.  27,  1861 
Re-enlisted  as  Veteran 
Died     at      Chattanooga 
Dec.  9,  1863  of  wounds 
received   in   Battle   of 
Chickamauga 
Dis.    May   8,    1863,    dis 
ability 
Trans.    4th    U.    S.    Cav. 

Nov.  27,  1862 
Must,    out   July  9,  1864 

as  Corporal 
Re-enlisted  as  Veteran 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Deserted  June  23,  1861 
Trans.    4th   U.    S.    Cav- 

Nov.  27,  1862 
Must,  out  June  24,  1865 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Dis.   Nov.    18,    1863    as 

Corporal,  disability 


Gen.  John  B.  Turchin. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  D— Continued. 


97 


NAME  AND  RANK.       RESIDENCE. 


ENLISTED. 


REMARKS. 


PRIVATES. 
Russell,  M. 
Sandier,  Lewis 


Sherrow,  Nick. 

Simmons,  H.  A. 
Smith,  Arny 
Smith,  Joseph 

Stevens,  And. 
Stranger,  Jacob 

Thompson,  Geo. 

Townsend,  Robt. 
Tracey,  J.  M. 

Veattie,  Aug. 

Vickery,  A.  A. 
Watson,  Wm.  S. 

Wells,  Phil.  H. 

Wilson,  John 
Windling,  Fred. 

Younger,  Chas. 

VETERANS. 
Coyle,  James 
Ferris,  Jos.  C. 
Graves,  Edm'd  G. 
Mahar,  Wm. 
McLellan,  D.  A. 


Chicago  June  17'  1861  Corp.,  died  in  Anderson- 

ville  Prison  Oct.  8, 
1864,  Grave  10,512 

Corp.,  Trans,  to  4th  IT. 
S.  Cav.  Nov.  27,  1862 

Deserted  Aug.  31,  1861 

« 

Dis.  July  29,  1863,  dis 
ability 

Re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
as  Sergt. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
as  Sergt. 

Deserted  June  19,  1861 

On  detached  duty  at 
Must,  out 

Dis.  Nov.  5,  1861,  dis 
ability 

Deserted  Aug.  26,  1862 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
as  Corporal 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
as  Corporal 

Must,  out'  July  9,  1864 

Dis.  May  8,  1863  as 
Sergt,,  disability 

Discharged  for  disability 

Dec.  22,  1863  Turned  over  for  transfer 
Turned  over  for  transfer 
Turned  over  for  transfer 
Turned  over  for  transfer 

Mar.  8,  1864      Turned  over  for  transfer 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  D— Continued. 


NAME  AND  RANK.         RESIDENCE. 


ENLISTED. 


REMARKS. 


Chicago 

Waukegan 

Chicago 

St.  Louis 
Chicago 


PRIVATES. 
McQuaid,  Ed. 
Smith,  M.  W. 
Smith,  John  A. 
Stevens,  And. 
Vassier,  Chas. 

RECRUITS. 
Adair,  David 
Bolles,  Jacob 

Burkhardt,  Ad. 


Clifford,  John 

Doyle,  David 

Gillespie,  John  M.     Carbondale 

Glover,  Francis         Chicago 

Graves,  Ed.  G. 

Griggs,  Geo.  A. 

Homes,  Ed.  O. 

Lee,  Edward 
Madden,  Sam. 

McGrath,  Jas. 

McLellan,  D;  A. 
Phillips,  Jos. 

Powell,  Edward 
Roach,  Nich. 
Rourke,  Darby 

Simpson,  Ed.  L. 


Dis.  Mar.  13,  1864 
Turned  over  for  transfer 
Deserted  May  7,  1864 
Dec.  21,  1863     Turned  over  for  transfer 
Deserted  Mar.  7,  1864 


Dec.  30,  1863 
June  18,  1861 

Dec.  3,  1861 

June  18,  1861 
Jan.  4,  1864 
June  18,  1861 
Jan.  5,  1864 

Nov.  15,  1861 


Jan.  2,  1864 
June  18,  1861 


Smith,  John  A. 
Smith,  M.  W. 


Waukegan 


Mar.  20,  1862 
June  18,  1861 


Nov.  20,  1861 


Turned  over  for  transfer 
Dis.  Mar.  15,  1863,  dis 
ability 
Dropped  as  deserter  Dec. 

31,  1862 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Turned  over  for  transfer 
Deserted  July  7,  1862 
Must,  out  July  31,  1865 
Trans,  to  Co.  D,  60th  111. 
Deserted    Mar.  18,   1862 
Killed      at     Winchester, 
Tenn.,   June   16,   1862 
Turned  over  for  transfer 
Died    at    Murfreesboro 

Jan.  25,  1863,  w'ds 
Dis.  Sept,  27,  1862,  dis 
ability 

Re-enlisted  as  Veteran 
Died    at    Bacon    Creek, 

Ky.,  Jan.  29,  1862 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Turned  over  for  transfer 
Trans,    to    Inv.     Corps 

Sept,  30,  1863 
Dis.  Mar.  11,  1863,  dis 
ability 

Re-enlisted   as  Veteran 
Re-enlisted  as  Veteran 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  D — Continued. 


99 


NAME  AND  RANK.      RESIDENCE.                      ENLISTED. 

REMARKS. 

PRIVATES. 

Tansey,  John             Chicago                June  18,  1861 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Terwilliger,  A.  A. 

Deserted  Aug.  29,  1861 

Terwilliger,  E.  N. 

Must,  out  Apr.  5,  1865 

Van  Vert,  John 

Dropped  as  deserter  June 

1,  1862 

Vassier,  Chas.            St.  Louis 

Re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Walker,  George         Chicago 

Trans,  to  Inv.  Corps  as 

Sergt, 

Wells,  Henry  H. 

Dis.  Nov.  5,   1861,   dis 

ability 

Willard,  Thos. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Wood,  Charles           Winona,  Mich. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

UNDER  COOK. 

Edwards,  John                                      Nov.  1,  1863 

Turned  over  for  transfer 

COMPANY  E. 

SERGEANTS. 

Baird,  Andrew           Chicago                June  4,  1861 

Dis.  Aug.  9,   '62,  wounds 

Blythe,  Thos. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Chalmers,  And. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

as  1st  Sergt. 

Raffen,  James  W. 

Prom,  to  2d  Lieut, 

Steel,  George 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

CORPORALS. 

Davidson,  Wm.         Springfield 

Dis.    July    31,     1863    as 

Private,  disability 

Evans,  John  A.          Chicago 

Must,    out     July,     1864 

as  Private 

Gordon,  Ed. 

Must,     out     July,    1864 

as  Private 

Huntington,  J.  C. 

Prom.     Sergt,,     died    of 

wounds  Feb.  28,  1863 

at  Nashville 

Reed,  Smith 

Dis.  July  28,  1862,  dis 

ability 

100 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  E— Continued. 


NAME  AND  RANK. 

RESIDENCE. 

ENLISTED.                              REMARKS. 

CORPORALS. 

Walton,  Rich. 
Me  Arthur,  David 
McGraw,  Jas. 

Chicago 
a 

Springfield 

June  4,  1681       Discharged,  disability 
"                Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
"                Killed  at  Nashville  Sept. 

12,  1862 

MUSICIANS. 

McDonald,  John 

Chicago 

June  19,  1861     Dis.  June  25,   1861,  dis 

ability 

Sherman,  Nat. 

June  4,  1861       Prom,  to  Prin.  Musician 

WAGONER. 

King,  Thomas 

it 

Trans,  to  V.  R.  C.  Sept. 

20,  1863 

PRIVATES. 

Agnew,  Thos.  A. 

'< 

June  17,  1861     Must,  out  July  9,     1864 

as  Sergt. 

Atwood,  Amos 

Springfield 

June  4,  1861       Deserted  July  10,  1861 

Barr,  Thomas 

n 

Deserted  Sept.  12,  1861 

Bartlett,  L. 
Barram,  John 

Chicago 
it 

Discharged  for  disability 
"                 Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Becker,  Chas. 

u 

Deserted  Sept,  12,  1861 

Blakney,  Sam. 

Springfield 

Deserted  July  31,  1861 

Bourk,  John 

Chicago 

Died  at  Louisville,  Apr. 

11,  1862 

Cadwell,  David 

(i 

June  17,  1861     Dis.    Nov.  30,  1861,  dis 

ability 

Chield,  Chas. 

" 

June  4,  1861       Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Christian,  Jas. 

" 

Must,  out  May  19,  1865 

as  Corporal 

Conlin,  Mich. 

a 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Coughlin,  Pat. 

" 

Dis.  Mar.  26,  1863,  dis 

ability 

Crichton,  Jas. 

Bloomington 

Dis.    Oct.    2,    1863,    dis 

ability 

Cunningham,  E.  S. 

Springfield 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  E— Continued. 


101 


NAME  AND  RANK.       RESIDENCE. 


ENLISTED. 


REMARKS. 


PRIVATES. 

Davis,  Sylv.  L.          Chicago  June  4,  1861      Re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Downs,  Chas.  Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Eastman,  Chas.  June  17,  1861     Deserted  Feb.  18,  1862 

Elmore,  Travis          Springfield          June  4,  1861       Dis.  July  22,   1862,   dis 
ability 

Farrell,  Thos.  Chicago  Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Fitzpatrick,  J.  Died  at  Nashville  Sept. 

11,  1862 

Forbes,  Alex.  Dis.   Nov.   8,    1861,   dis 

ability 

Fuller,  Weston  C.  Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Gertlin,  Mich.  Dis.  June  25,   1861,  dis 

ability 

Gibbs,  L.  B.  Deserted  Sept,  1862 

Grove,  Aug.  Springfield  Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Grove,  Wm.  H.          Chicago  Wagoner,  Must,  out  July 

9,  1864 

Joel,  George  Died  of  wounds  at  Mur- 

freesboro  Jan.  5,  1863 

Kelly,  Martin  Springfield  Killed  Sept.  17,  1861 

Lamb,  Wm.  Chicago  Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Mann,  Andrew  Killed  at  Nashville  Sept. 

15,  1862 
McEvoy,  Daniel        Springfield  Missing  in  action,  Stone 

River,  Dec.  31,  1862 
McGuire,  John  Trans,  to  V.  R.  C.  Sept. 

20,  1863 

McLauchlin,  J.          Chicago  Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Murphy,  Wm.  Springfield  Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Nixon,  Henry  Chicago  Dis.  Mar.  18,  1862,  dis 

ability 

Noble,  J.  P.  G.  Died    Jan.    6,    1863     of 

wounds     received     at 
Stone  River 


102 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  E— Continued. 


NAME  AND  RANK. 

RESIDENCE. 

ENLISTED.                                 REMARKS. 

PRIVATES. 

O'Brian,  Dan'l 

Springfield 

June  4,  1861       Corp.,    died    at    Chatta 

nooga  Dec.  1,  1863 

Patteson,  Wm. 

<t 

"                Captured  at  Stone  River 

Pettit,  Wm.  C. 

i< 

Left  in  hospital,  deserted 

Reynolds,  J.  R. 

Chicago 

Must,    out  July  9,  1864 

as  Corporal 

Robinson,  Nels.  G. 

(( 

'                 Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Schmidt,  Phil. 

Springfield 

Deserted  Sept,  5,  1861 

Schultz,  Otto 

Chicago 

Dis.  Mar.  18,  1862,  dis 

ability 

Strang,  Steph. 

Springfield 

Died  at  Chattanooga  Oct. 

1,  1862 

Thrasher,  Jas.  H. 

it 

Re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Tomlin,  John 
Walsh,  Thos.  C. 
Westfall,  Geo. 

Chicago 
a 

a 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Died  Apr.  10,  '63,  wounds 
Dis.  Jan.  31,    1862,   dis 

ability 

White,  Jas.  M. 

a 

"                 Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Wignall,  Thos. 
Witherow,  I.  N. 

Springfield 

a 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
"                Deserted  June  18,  1861 

Wood,  Francis 

Chicago 

Trans,  to  V.  R.  C. 

Wood,  Geo.  A. 

a 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

VETERANS. 

Davis,  Sylv.  L. 

Dec.  21,  1863     Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C. 

Thrasher,  J.  H. 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C. 

RECRUITS. 

Anderson,  Mat. 

Chicago 

Oct.  21,  1861      Died     Sept,     29,      1862 

wounds  received  at 

Austin,  Isaac 

u 

Chickamauga 
June  20,  1861     Died  Mar.  5,  1862 

Bennett,  J. 

" 

June  21,  1861     Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Bethune,  G.  O. 

(( 

"                 Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  E — Continued. 


103 


NAME  AND  RANK.       RESIDENCE. 

ENLISTED. 

REMARKS. 

RECRUITS. 

Bremner,  Robt.         Chicago 

Feb.  1,  1862 

Trans.     H'dqu'trs     14th 

Ar.  Corps 

Bremner,  Wm.  C. 

Nov.  7,  1861 

Trans.     H'dqu'trs     14th 

Ar.  Corps. 

Brosnahan,  J. 

Dec.  12,  1862 

Trans.     H'dqu'trs     14th 

Ar.  Corps 

Carmichael,  D. 

Apr.  2,  1862 

Died   at   Nashville   Jan. 

2,  1863 

Dawson,  Thos.          Cook  Co. 

Deserted  Dec.  18,  1861 

Fanning,  Pat.             Chicago 

Jan.  26,  1864 

Trans.     H'dqu'trs     14th 

Army  Corps 

Fletcher,  Robt. 

June  22,  1861 

Discharged,  disability 

Frazer,  A.  McL. 

June  4,  1861 

Must,    out    July  9,  1864 

as  Corporal 

Griswold,  J.  C. 

June  19,  1861 

Died  .  in     Andersonvillc 

Prison  July  27,    1864, 

Grave  4,083 

Guthrie,  Peter  F.      St.  Charles 

June  26,  1861 

Must,   out   July  9,  1864 

as  Sergt. 

Hackett,  Geo.            Chicago 

Mar.  20,  1862 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

Army  Corps 

Hays,  John 

Oct.  22,  1861 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

Army  Corps 

Holz,  Henry 

Feb.  9,  1864 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

Army  Corps 

Irons,  And. 

July  12,  1864 

Must,    out   July  9,  1864 

as  Corporal 

Jones,  Michael 

Sept,  16,  1861 

Dis.  Apr.  20,    1863,  dis 

ability 

Lawler,  Thos. 

Sept,  17,  1861 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C.  as  Corporal 

Law,  Thomas 

June  19,  1861 

Dis.  July  21,   1862,  dis 

ability 

Lawrence,  J. 

Mar.  20,  1862 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

Army  Corps 

104 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  E— Continued. 


NAME  AND  RANK. 

RESIDENCE. 

ENLISTED. 

REMARKS. 

PRIVATES. 

Maomillan,  D. 

Chicago 

June  21,  1861 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Malcom,  W.  J. 

" 

" 

Killed  Oct.  31,  1861 

Marr,  John 

Nov.  29,  1862 

Trans,     to      H'dqu'trs. 

14th  A.    C. 

Matteson,  H.  C. 

St.  Charles 

July  11,  1861 

Prom.  Hospital  Steward 

McDonald,  Jas. 

Chicago 

Sept,  16,  1861 

Dis.   Jan.  16,    1862,   dis 

ability 

McLean,  John 

" 

Oct.  22,  1861 

Trans,  to  23d  111.  Inf. 

O'Sullivan,  Tim 

Dec.  1,  1862 

Trans,  to  Vet,  Res.  Corps 

Patterson,  T.  C. 

Nov.  1,  1861 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C. 

Patterson,  W. 

St.  Louis 

July  27,  1861 

Killed   at   Missionary 

Ridge  Nov.  25,  1863 

Pottinger,  W. 

Chicago 

Oct.  22,  1861 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C. 

Rimer,  John 

a 

June  20,  1861 

Died  July  4,  1863 

Simmons,  A.  S. 

Quincy 

July  14,  1861 

Dis.  Sept.  13,  1861,  dis 

ability 

Skinner,  Ur.  S. 

Chicago 

Dec.  14,  1863 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C. 

Skipsey,  Jos. 

n 

July  1,  1861 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Stephens,  J.  E.  A. 

a 

July  3,  1861 

Dis.  Jan.  31,  '62,  wounds 

Tarteur,  Paul 

" 

Feb.  2,  1864 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C. 

Tucker,  Alf.  R. 

Quincy 

July  17,  1861 

Dis.    Oct.    4,    1862,.  dis 

ability 

Walker,  And. 

Chicago 

June  19,  1861 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Welch,  Thos. 

" 

July  3,  1861 

Killed    by    a    citizen    of 

Nashville  Sept,  15,  '62 

Whipple,  Orlow 

" 

June  29,  1861 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C. 

WTilson,  Jas.  W. 

" 

Dec.  30,  1863 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C. 

Young,  H.  C. 

St.  Charles 

July  11,  1861 

Dis.  Oct.  27,    1863,  dis 

ability 

THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  E— Continued. 


105 


NAME  AND  RANK. 


RESIDENCE.  ENLISTED. 


REMARKS. 


UNDER  COOK. 
Jones,  William 


SERGEANTS. 
Chaffer,  Thos. 

Campbell,  J.  G. 
Hill,  John 
Marcey,  Dan. 

CORPORALS. 
Bobbitt,  John  W. 

Bobbitt  J.  W.  S. 
Goldsmith,  A. 
Job,  Arch.  W. 
Plummer,  Add.  G. 
Porter,  S.  W. 

Ward,  Hor.  E. 
MUSICIANS. 
Drew,  John 

Valentine,  C.  H. 

WAGONER. 
Wanchel,  Moses 


Nov.  6,  1863       Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 
A.  C. 

COMPANY  F. 


Virginia  June  17,  1861     Reduced,  Must,  out  July 

9,  1864 

Prom,  to  2d  Lieut. 
Prom,  to  2d  Lieut. 


Chandler  ville 

Manito 

1C 

Chicago 
Virginia 


Chicago 


Virginia 


Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Dis.  July  31,  1862,  dis 
ability 

Killed  in  R.  R.  accident 
Sept.  17,  1861 

Dis.  Mar.  23,  1863,  'dis 
ability 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
as  Private 

Reduced,  re-enlisted  as 
Veteran 

Sergt.,  Trans,  to  Inv. 
Corps  Nov.  1,  1863 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Must,    out    July  9,  1864 

as  Private 
Killed  in  R.  R.  accident 

Sept.  17,  1861 


Dis.  Jan.   16,    1862,   dis 
ability 


106 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  F— Continued. 


NAME  AND  RANK. 

RESIDENCE. 

ENLISTED.                                 REMARKS. 

PRIVATES. 

Afland,  Win. 

Chicago 

June  17,  1861     Died   Jan.    15,     1863   of 

wounds     received     at 

Stone  River 

Anderson,  H.  K. 

Virginia 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Anno,  Harrison 

Manito 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Ashton,  Har. 

(C 

Deserted  Aug.  8,  1862 

Barrows,  John 

Virginia 

Dis.  June  16,   1863,  dis 

ability 

Baker,  Jacob 

(i 

Deserted  Dec.  31,  1862 

Beck,  William 

Chandlerville 

Must,    out   July  9,  1864 

as  Sergeant 

Beebe,  Al.  G. 

Virginia 

Corp.,     Dis.     Nov.     30, 

1861,  disability 

Bobbitt,  E.  D. 

Manito 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Border,  Jas.  H. 

Virginia 

Dis.  Mar.  15,  1863,  Corp. 

disability 

Bouyer,  A.  J. 

Havana 

Corp.,  Killed  at  Chicka- 

mauga,  Sept.  20,  1863 

Brown,  Chas. 

Chicago 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Brown,  Sid.  B. 

Virginia 

Dis.  July  31,   1862,  dis 

ability 

Brown,  Wm.  E. 

u 

Dis.  July  31,   1862,   dis 

ability 

Burns,  James 

Chicago 

Dis.  Nov.  30,  1861,  dis 

ability 

Cad  well,  Win. 

Pekin 

Dis.    Feb.    1,    1862,    dis 

ability 

Clark,  Edward 

Virginia 

Deserted  July  28,   1861 

Colman,  John 

Springfield 

Trans,     to     Inv.     Corps 

Nov.  15,  1863 

Conley,  Dennis 

Virginia 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Cording,  Fred. 

(i 

Dis.  Feb.  11,   1862,  dis 

ability 

Eddy,  Ed.  A. 

Manito 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  F — Continued. 


107 


NAME  AND  RANK.         RESIDENCE. 


ENLISTED. 


REMARKS. 


PRIVATES. 
Griffin,  Sam'l 

Hamilton,  T.  A. 
Hill,  Enoch 

Hodkinson,  J. 
Joslin,  Geo.  H. 
Kellogg,  O.  P. 
Kent,  Silas  W. 
Keys,  John 
Lacy,  Thos.  J. 
Learned,  H. 
Leistercew,  Al. 
Lindsy,  John 


Springfield         June  17,  1861 

Virginia 
Manito 

Virginia 

Chicago 

Springfield 

Virginia 

Chandlerville 

«  a 

Virginia 


McCormick,  A.          Springfield 


McLaughlin,  J. 
Mills,  R.  W. 
Mitchell,  Henry 
Monteice,  C.  W. 

Moor,  Chris. 
Myers,  James 

Owen,  William 
Reed,  Ormd.  D. 

Regan,  Jas.  T. 
Rhineberger,  I.  D. 
Remis,  Wm. 
Reynolds,  Mich. 

Russel,  John 


Arcadia 
Springfield 


Virginia 


Manito 

Springfield 

Virginia 


Killed     at     Stone    River 

Dec.  31,  1862 
Re-enlisted  as  Veteran 
Dis.    Nov.  7,   1861,   dis 
ability 

Died  in  Ohio  Oct.  5,  1861 
Deserted  Oct.  1,  1861 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Prom.  Serg.  and  2d  Lieut. 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Corp.,  wounded  and  miss 
ing  at  Chickamauga 
Dis.    Feb.    7,     1862,    dis 
ability 

Discharged  July  2,  1861 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Dis.    Nov.  21,    1861,  dis 
ability 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

as  Corporal 

Dis.  Nov.  21,  1861,  dis 
ability 

Dis.  July  31,    1862,  dis 
ability 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Dis.  Nov.   21,    1861,  dis 
ability 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 


108 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  F — Continued. 


NAME  AND  RANK.       RESIDENCE. 


ENLISTKD. 


REMARKS. 


PRIVATES. 
Slater,  Jas.  L. 

Smith,  Daniel 

Smith,  Jas.  11, 

Ternan,  Martin 

Van  Brunt,  J. 

Voney,  Prosper          Chicago 

Ward,  Walker 

Welch,  Wm. 
Wentworth,  J. 
Wickersham,  J. 

Zane,  Wrilliam 

VETERANS. 
Hess,  Abraham 

Hamilton,  T.  A. 
Plummer,  Ad.  G. 

RECRUITS. 
At  wood,  Henry  S. 

Bobbitt,  S.  S. 
Biddlecomb,  D.  H. 


Chicago  June  17,  1861     Died    at    Nashville    Mar- 

10,  1862 

Virginia  Dis.   July   31,    1862,    dis 

ability 

Chicago  Dis.  Nov.  27,  1862,  to  en 

list  in  4th  Cavalry 
Dis.  Feb.    26,    1863,    dis 
ability 

Springfield  Died    Nov.  27,    1863     of 

wounds 

Deserted  June  16,  1862, 
charges  removed  by 
Special  Orders 

Virginia  Dis.  Nov.  27,  1862,  to  en 

list  in  4th  Cavalry 

Springfield  Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

"  Deserted  May  14,  1862 

Chicago  Dis.  July  31,   1862,    dis 

ability 

Springfield  Dis.  Nov.  27,  1862  to  en 

list  in  4th  Cavalry 

Chicago  Dec.  22,  1863     Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C. 
Rushville  Mar.  28,  1863  Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C. 
Virginia  Mar.  29,  1863  Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C. 

Virginia  July  22,  1861     Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C. 
Chicago  Dec.  2,  1861  Killed  at  Missionary 

Ridge  Nov.  25,  1863 
Apr.  2,  1862       Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 
COMPANY  F— Continued. 


109 


NAME  AND  RANK. 

RESIDENCE. 

ENLISTED. 

REMARKS. 

RECRUITS. 

Bloorn,  Henry 

Manito 

Dec.  2,  1861 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C. 

Booth,  William 

Chicago 

July  22,  1861 

Must,  out  Aug.  16,   1864 

Cogdal,  Wm. 

Manito 

Dec.  2,  1861 

Dis.  July  31,   1862,  dis 

ability 

Cox,  Felix  G. 

Virginia 

July  22,  1861 

Dis.  July  24,   1862,   dis 

ability 

Ficker,  Oscar 

College  Grove 

Dec.  14,  1863 

Must,  out  Aug.  7,  1865 

Hess,  Aber. 

Chandlerville 

June  28,  1861 

Re-enlisted   as   Veteran 

Kelly,  Ed.  T. 

Chicago 

Feb.  1,  1864 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C. 

Life,  Joseph 

Quincy 

July  25,  1861 

Deserted  Sept.  18,  1861 

McMahon,  John 

Chicago 

Feb.  10,  1864 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

McMullen  John 

Virginia 

July  22,  1861 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C. 

Pardy,  Humph. 

Chicago 

Feb.  10,  1864 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs   14th 

A.  C. 

Porter,  R.  L. 

Virginia 

July  22,  1861 

Dis.  Nov.  21,   1861,    dis 

ability 

Rodgers,  Ben.  F. 

Chicago 

K 

Dis.  July  31,    1861,   dis 

ability 

Russell,  John  G. 

a 

June  26,  1861 

Must,  out    July  9,    1864 

as  Sergeant 

Ryan,  James 

« 

Mar.  20,  1862 

Must,  out  May  30,  1865 

Ryan,  James 

u 

Jan.  21,  1864 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C. 

Southwell,  Jas. 

a 

July  3,  1861 

Dis.  July  31,   1862,  dis 

ability 

Stitchell,  J.  C. 

" 

June  20,  1861 

Absent,  sick  at  Must,  out 

Sullivan,  And. 

Virginia 

Mar.  20,  1862 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C. 

Vaughan,  Colum. 

Jacksonville 

Mar.  12,  1864 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C, 

Williams,  Hiram 

Chicago 

Jan.  22,  1864 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs   14th 

A.  C. 

110 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  F — Continued. 


NAME  AND  RANK. 


RESIDENCE. 


ENLISTED. 


REMARKS. 


UNDER  COOK. 
Bebly,  Green 


SERGEANTS. 
Downs,  Hylan  A. 
Frazier,  Alex.  M. 
Saunders,  N.  H. 
Seaborn,  Frank 
White,  Lyman  A. 

CORPORALS. 
Bennett,  Benj. 
Dodge,  Clark  E. 
Farr,  Henry 
North,  Clement  M. 
Percing,  Abrah. 
Porter,  Alph.  M. 
Reed,  Hiram  A. 
Thornton,  Henry  J. 

PRIVATES. 
Adams,  Henry 
Adams,  Wm.  G. 
Ashburn,  Robt. 
Ashby,  Chauncey 
Bise,  Wm.  R. 
Bratstrain,  C.  M. 
Brown,  Western 
Christian,  Jas. 
Coffin,  Reub.  F. 
Crossly,  Jas. 
Crounch,  Geo.  W. 
Dawson,  Thos.  H. 
Denham,  Wm.  S. 


Mar.  3,  1863 


COMPANY  G. 


Died    at    Chattanooga 
Mar.  1,  1864 


Chicago 

June  21,  1861 

a 

July  6,  1861 

Trans,  to  Co.  E 

u 

June  21,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

u 

July  15,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

June  21,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

a 

July  14,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

" 

July  2,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

July  15,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

« 

" 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

July  6,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

u 

n 

Trans,  te  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

it 

July  15,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

(I 

July  5,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

St.  Louis 

July  31,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

u 

a 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

it 

Chicago 

July  5,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

St.  Louis 

July  31,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Chicago 

July  3,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Palmyra,  Mo. 

July  20,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Chicago 

July  5,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

a 

July  10,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

u 

July  11,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

a 

July  31,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

July  4,  1861 

Trans,  to  Co.  E 

July  15,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  G — Continued. 


Ill 


NAME  AND  RANK. 

RESIDENCE. 

ENLISTED. 

REMARKS. 

PRIVATES. 

Dick,  Thomas 

St.  Louis 

July  29,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Ellis,  Geo.  E. 

July  30,  1861 

Fairburn,  Wm. 

Chicago 

July  20,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Field,  Thos.  H. 

K 

July  15,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Fletcher,  Robt.  F. 

tt 

July  22,  1861 

Trans,  to  Co.  E 

Galligan,  Dennis 

" 

July  6,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Gentil,  John  P. 

July  14,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Gibbs,  Joel 

July  31,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Haas,  John 

Chicago 

July  14,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Holt  ing,  Isaac  H. 

St.  Louis 

July  31,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Hopewell,  Henry 

Chicago 

July  6,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Hubbard,  Davis  K. 

" 

July  22,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Lindsay,  Jas. 

a 

July  15,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Lyons,  John 

July  2,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Malcolm,  Wm.  J. 

July  5,  1861 

Trans,  to  Co.  E 

Maxwell,  Jas. 

St.  Louis 

July  29,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Mayhew,  Prosper 

Chicago 

July  15,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

McCormack,  Jas. 

" 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

McDermot,  Pat. 

July  30,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

McMullen,  J.  B. 

St.  Louis 

July  31,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Meyers,  David 

Chicago 

July  14,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Miller,  Henry  F. 

" 

July  11,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Morris,  George 

St.  Louis 

July  30,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Moore,  Jas.  F. 

a 

July  31,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Mumford,  Jerem. 

" 

a 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Mumford,  Ross 

a 

it 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Noble,  David 

Chicago 

July  15,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

O'Buck,  Wm. 

St.  Louis 

July  30,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Osburn  Robt, 

" 

July  31,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Patterson,  Wm. 

Chicago 

July  29,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Piers,  Charles 

a 

July  15,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Rice,  Wm.  H. 

St.  Louis 

July  31,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Sealock,  Steph.  O. 

tt 

July  30,  1861 

Seymour,  T.  H. 

July  15,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Showers,  Caleb 

Chicago 

July  10,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

112 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  G — Continued. 


NAME  AND  RANK. 

RESIDENCE. 

ENLISTED. 

REMARKS. 

PRIVATES. 

Smith,  Barney,  M. 

Chicago 

July  15,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Spaulding,  D.  L. 

July  21,  1861 

Springer,  Lewis  C. 

K 

July  14,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Stahl,  Henry 

" 

July  15,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Stanley,  Rich.  H. 

" 

tt 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Stewart,  Jas.  H. 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Taylor,  Alf.  M. 

Chicago 

July  10,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Tennison,  J.  M. 

" 

" 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Tonies,  John  C. 

" 

July  15,  1861 

Tracey,  Wm. 

St.  Louis 

July  31,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Wallace,  H.  S. 

July  15,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Waltman,  Martin 

Chicago 

tt 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Whitley,  John  D. 

St.  Louis 

July  31,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Whitley,  Wm.  K. 

« 

tt 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Ziegenfuss,  M. 

Chicago 

July  12,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

RECRUITS. 

Barnes,  Ham'tn 

Chicago 

June  21,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Billings,  John 

Bird's  Point 

Aug.  5,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Bracket,  Chas.  C. 

Chicago 

June  21,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Buchannan,  R. 

" 

Oct.  19,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Cooper,  Chas. 

" 

Oct.  12,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Crawley,  Mich. 

" 

Oct.  12,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Crosby,  Wm. 

a 

tt 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Davis,  Wm.  H. 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Deal,  Geo.  H. 

" 

Sept.  30,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Drewery,  Wm. 

K 

Oct.  29,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Ford,  Lawrence 

" 

July  15,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Gallagher,  Jas. 

11 

Oct.  19,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Gillispie,  Mart. 

(( 

i  ( 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Hammond,  N.  K. 

U 

Sept,  28,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Hastings,  Ed. 

" 

Oct.  3,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Hays,  Michael 

" 

Oct.  4,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Hogle,  James 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Holmes,  Edwin 

Oct.  19,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  G — Continued. 


113 


NAME  AND  RANK. 

RESIDENCE.                   ENLISTED. 

REMARKS. 

RECRUITS. 

Holmes,  Myron 

Chicago              ()ct.  1,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Lawrence,  L.  C. 

Oct.  15,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Luce,  Wm.  C. 

Moline 

Maguire,  Martin 

Chicago               Nov.  12,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Martin,  Sam.  W. 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

McGuire,  John 

Trans,  to  Co.  H 

McLaughlin,  J.  T. 

Chicago               Oct.  14,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'rv 

McVay,  Michael 

Oct.  19,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Miller,  Wm.  S. 

Oct.  11,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Moshier,  Steph.  H. 

Nov.  8,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Otto,  Robt,  M. 

Apr.  2,  1862 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Robinson,  Frank. 

July  23,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

Tucker,  Francis 

Oct.  19,  1861 

Weaver,  Jas.  B. 

"                               « 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

White,  Wm.  P. 

Oct.  1,  1861 

Trans,  to  Bridges'  Bat'ry 

COMPANY  H. 

SERGEANTS. 
Babcock,  Wm.  H.     Moline 

Johnson,  V.  C.  Geneseo 

Mapes,  L.  B.  Moline 

Sickles,  Horace  H. 

Wood,  Wellington 

CORPORALS. 
Beers,  Benj.  F.          Moline 

Deidrick,  John  Geneseo 

Devinney,  J.  W.        Moline 
Gould,  Melvin  A. 


June  17,  1861  Dis.  Mar.  5,  1862  for 
promotion 

Prom,  to  2d  Lieut. 

Dis.  June  22,  1861  as 
Private,  disability 

Dis.  Apr.  13,  1862  dis 
ability 

Prom,  to  2d  Lieut. 

Must,  out    July  9,  1864 

as  Private 
Prom.  1st  Sergt.  and  then 

to  1st  Lieut. 
Dis.    Feb.    2,    1864,    as 

Sergt.,  disability 
Dis.    Oct.    8,    1862     as 

Private,  disability 


114 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  H — Continued. 


NAME  AND  RANK. 


RESIDENCE. 


ENLISTED. 


REMARKS. 


CORPORALS. 
Maxham,  Hosea  C.  Geneseo 


Thomas,  Lloyd  B. 

Wheelock,  Evr't  Moline 

Wycoff,  Chas.  H.  Geneseo 

PRIVATES. 

Archibald,  Ed.  La  Salle 

Anderson,  Lewis  Veni 

Bell,  Robert  M.  Port  Byron 

Benham,  John  Geneseo 


Benson,  Nels.  P. 
Blanden,  Lem. 
Bleakney,  Lewis 

Blundy,  Thos. 
Bergstrom,  S. 
Brown,  Jos.  G. 

Brown,  Theo.  M. 
Carson,  Amaziah 

Christy,  Wm. 
Clay,  John  P. 

Coleman,  Jas.  F. 
Collins,  Geo. 


Moline 

Geneseo 

Orion 

Moline 
Andalusia 

Geneseo 
Moline 


Viola 

Cleveland 
Davenport 


June  17,  1861 


Died     in     Andersonville 

Prison,  May  13,  1864, 

Grave  1,061 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

as  Sergeant 
Missing  at  Chickamauga 

Sept.  20,  1863 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Dis.  to  enlist  in  4th  U.  S. 

Cavalry 

Died  at  Murfreesboro 
Mar.  4, 1862  of  wounds 
received  in  battle  of 
Stone  River 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Detached  1st  Lieut.  U. 

S.  C.  T. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Dis.   Mar.  4,   1862,   dis 
ability 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

as  Sergeant 

Dis.  June  19,  1862,  dis 
ability 
Dis.    Apr.    3,    1864     as 

Sergeant,  disability 
Dis.  Nov.  3,  '63,  wounds 
Must,  out  July  9,   1864 
as  Sergt, 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  H — Continued. 


115 


NAME  AND  RANK. 

RESIDENCE.                ENLISTED. 

REMARKS. 

PRIVATES. 

Curtis,  Thos. 

Geneseo             June  17,  1861 

Dis.  Apr.  28,   1862,  dis 

ability 

Decker,  Wm.  D. 

Rock  Island 

Dis.    Feb.    1,    1862,    dis 

ability 

English,  Jas.  W. 

Atkinson 

Trans,  to  Co.  I 

Flemming,  G.  F. 

Geneseo 

Trans,     to     Inv.     Corps 

June  27,  1863 

Fuller,  Charles 

Moline 

Dis.   Mar.   7,    1863,   dis 

ability 

Giles,  C.  D. 

it                             a 

Dis.    Dec.    4,    1861,   dis 

ability 

Gregory,  John 

Rock  Island 

Dis.    Dec.   4,    1861,   dis 

ability 

Hagan,  Fred.  K. 

it                              tt 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Hagerty,  Wm. 

Geneseo 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

as  Sergt, 

Harrington,  S. 

tt                              a 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864. 

as  Sergt. 

Hayes,  Jos.  P. 

Hampton 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Hebbard,  A.  A. 

Moline 

Captured  at  Chickamau- 

ga  Sept.  20,  1863 

Huey,  John  L. 

tt                             u 

Dis.  Feb.  19,   1864,  dis 

ability 

Johnson,  J.  F.  P. 

tt                                             n 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Kernes,  George 

11                                             tt 

Missing  at    Stone  River 

Dec.  31,  1862 

Kernes,  Jas. 

Cambridge 

Dis.  Oct.  31,   1861,   dis 

ability 

Lander,  Robt. 

Geneseo 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Larson,  Lars. 

Moline 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Lawrence,  Chas. 

Geneseo 

Killed    at    Chickamauga 

Sept.  20,  1863 

Lindsay,  John 

Camden  Mills 

Hon.  Dis.  July  29,  1862 

Llewellyn,  B. 

Rock  Island 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

116 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  H— Continued. 


NAME  AND  RANK.  RESIDENCE.  ENLISTED. 

PRIVATES. 

Luce,  Wm.  P.  Hampton        June  1 7,  1861 

Mapes,  Henry  E.  Moline 
Maxwell,  Cal.  L. 

Maxwell,  Jesse  Cordova 
McClure,  Henry  T.         " 

McKee,  John  Moline 

McKinzie,  John  Allamakee  " 

McMahan,  John  Moline 

Meade,  George 


REMARKS. 


Mercer,  John 


Hampton 


Mitchell,  R.  B. 

Rock  Island 

Morris,  Chas.  B. 

Moline 

Nelson,  Peter 

a 

Nixon,  James 

Geneseo 

Payne,  Jerem. 

Hampton 

Peterson,  Fr. 

Geneseo 

Pettifer,  Wm. 

Moline 

Post,  Jas.  L. 

Cambridge 

Pyper,  Lysan.  B. 

Moline 

Ransom,  Wm.  S. 
Rathburn,  Hen.  W.  Cordova 


Dis.  Oct.  31,   1861,  dis 
ability 

Dis.    Feb.    1,    1862,    dis 
ability 

Dis.  Mar.  26,  1862,  dis 
ability 
Killed    at    Stone    River 

Dec.  31,  1862 
Dis.  to  enlist  in  4th  U.  S. 

Cavalry 
Detached  as  2d  Lieut.  U. 

S.  C.  T. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Trans.  Inv.  Corps  Sept 

30,  1863 

Died     in     Andersonville 
Prison  July   13,    1864, 
Grave  3,279 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

as  Corporal 

Deserted  June  26,  1861 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Dis.  Aug.  6,  1862,  disa 
bility 

Deserted  July  29,   1862 
Dis.  July  21,   1862,  dis 
ability 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Trans,  to  Inv.  Corps 
Deserted  June  29,  1862 
Dis.  July  29,   1862,  dis 
ability 

Dis.  Feb.  21,   1862,  dis 
ability 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  H— Continued. 


117 


NAME  AND  RANK. 

RESIDENCE.           ENLISTED. 

REMARKS. 

PRIVATES. 

Sadler,  R.  H. 

Orion                   June  17,  1861 

Dis.  Mar.  26,  1862,  dis 

ability 

Samuels,  Chas.  F. 

Moline 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Satsrom,  Adol. 

Geneseo 

Trans,  to  Inv.  Corps 

Shepard,  Alf. 

Rock  Island  Co. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Smith,  Chas.  E. 

Geneseo 

Dis.  Aug.  5,  1861,  sent  C. 

M. 

Snyder,  J.  H. 

u                              a 

Trans.   Inv.   Corps  Feb. 

27,  1864 

Stone,  Albert 

Allamakee 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Stoughton,  M. 

Moline 

Trans.   Inv.   Corps  Feb. 

8,  1863 

Stumer,  Wm. 

"                               " 

Dis.  Feb.  25,  1864 

Suter,  Josiah 

Rock  Island 

Dis.      June      18,      1863, 

wounds 

Thompson,  D.  W. 

Moline 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Thompson,  G.  G. 

Cleveland 

Dis.  July  18,   1863,  dis 

ability 

Townley,  Robt. 

Geneseo 

Dis.  Oct.  20,    1863,  dis 

ability 

Tuttie,  Frank 

Geneseo 

Dis.    Feb.    1,     1862,    dis 

ability 

Van  Order,  Cypr. 

«                              (( 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Walsh,  Wm.  L. 

a                              it 

Dis.   Oct.    16,    1863    as 

Sergt.,  disability 

Waner,  Peter 

Moline 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Ward,  Robt, 

Rock  Island 

Trans,  to  Co.  A 

Wells,  Henri  E. 

K                                                                11 

Dis.     Feb.    9,     1863     of 

wounds  received  Stone 

River 

Wheelock,  T.  D. 

Moline 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

as  Corporal 

Witherill,  M. 

a                              u 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

•is  Corporal 

118 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  H — Continued. 


NAME  AND  BANK. 

RESIDENCE. 

ENLISTED. 

REMARKS. 

PRIVATES. 

Wittenberger,  H. 

Geneseo 

June  17,  1861 

Dis.  Feb.  18,    1863,  dis 

ability 

Wood,  Wm.  H. 

Aledo 

u 

Died  at  Nashville   Nov. 

23,  1862 

Young,  Dan.  E. 

Hampton 

u 

Died  in  Ohio  Oct.  4,  1861 

Young,  Saml. 

Moline 

" 

Died  at    Nashville  Mar. 

4,  1863 

RECRUITS. 

Bates,  Chas.  G. 

Aug.  27,  1862 

Trans,  to   H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C. 

Bleakney,  J.  G. 

Orion 

Aug.  3,  1861 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C. 

Brewster,  C.  G. 

Peru 

July  5,  1861 

Trans,  to  Gen.  Steedman 

Brown,  Henry  L. 

Moline 

Nov.  23,  1861 

Deserted  Mar.  31,  1862 

Carson,  Jas.  W. 

" 

Dec.  3,  1861 

Absent,  sick  at  Must,  out 

Cobb,  William 

a 

June  29,  1861 

Dis.   Dec.   4,    1861,   dis 

ability 

Dickenson,  R.  E. 

Prophetstown 

July  10,  1861 

Turned  over  for   transfer 

Gibbs,  Webs.  C. 

June  4,  1863 

Trans,  to  Gen.  Steedman 

Gustafson,  C. 

Moline 

June  29,  1861 

Dis.  Apr.   13,    1862,  dis 

ability 

Hawthorne,  W.  P. 

Colona 

June  30,  1861 

Must,  out  July  9,   1861 

Maguire,  John 

Chicago 

Nov.  12,  1861 

Turned  over  for  transfer 

Rhodes,  Hiram 

Oct.  14,  1862 

Must,  out  July  27,  1865 

Ryan,  Thos.  F. 

Chicago 

Mar.  20,  1862 

Deserted  Mar.    19,   1863 

Sickles,  Geo.  B. 

Moline 

Sept,  25,  1861 

On    detached    duty    at 

Must,  out 

Van  Or  den,  A. 

Oct.  14,  1862 

Turned  over  for  transfer 

Williams,  J.  A. 

Mitchell,  Ind. 

Sept.  28,  1861 

Died   at   Nashville   Jan. 

15,  1863 

Youngs,  John  Y. 

June  4,  1863 

Died  at  Nashville  Sept. 

1,  1863 

UNDER  COOK. 

Brown,  John 

Mar.  3,  1863 

Turned  over  for  transfer 

THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 


119 


COMPANY  I. 


NAME  AND  RANK.      RESIDENCE. 

ENLISTED.                                REMARKS. 

SERGEANTS. 

Camphouse,  W.         Galena 

June  17,  1861     Must,  out  July  9,    1864 

as  Private 

French,  Thos.  J. 

Dis.  July  29,  1861,  dis 

ability 

Morehouse,  D.  B. 

Prom,  to  2d  Lieut. 

Pittman,  Wm. 

Dis.  Feb.  25,   1862,  dis 

ability 

Schlosser,  Con. 

Died  at  Chicago  July  4, 

1864 

CORPORALS. 

Cowden,  Har.            Bellevue,  la. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

as  Private 

Ingraham,  J.             Galena 

Killed  on  R.  R.  Sept.  17, 

1861 

Lyons,  R.  M. 

Must,   out  July  9,    1864 

as  1st  Sergt. 

Simons,  H. 

Sergt,,  died  at  Murfrees- 

boro  Apr.  29,  1863 

PRIVATES. 

Allison,  Isaac  S.         Bellevue,  la. 

Deserted 

Anton,  Nich.              Galena 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Archer,  E.  A.             Dunleith 

Dis.    July   2,    1861,    dis 

ability 

Barras,  Henry           Galena 

Killed  on  R.  R.  Sept.  17, 

1861 

Barton,  John  R. 

Corp.,  died  Oct.   10,  1863 

of  wounds  received  at 

Chickamauga 

Bartholow,  R.  L. 

Deserted  Aug.  1,  1861 

Beardsley,  H.             Bellevue,  la. 

Must,   out   July  9,  1864 

as  Corporal 

Bird,  Jesse  W.            Galena 

Dis.  July  14,   1861,  dis 

ability 

Brown,  John 

Killed  on  R.  R.  Sept.  17, 

1861 

120 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  I — Continued. 


NAME  AND  RANK. 

RESIDENCE.                  ENLISTED.                                REMARKS. 

PRIVATES. 

Boston,  Jno.  W. 

Galena               June  17,  1861     Dis.  Feb.  27,   1863,  dis 

ability 

Carroll-,  Lawr. 

Killed  on  R.  R.  Sept.  17, 

1861 

Carroll,  L.  M. 

Trans,  to  Sig.  Corps  Oct. 

22,  1863asSergt. 

Clark,  Samuel 

Killed  on  R.  R.  Sept.  17, 

1861 

Coleman,  Jacob 

Killed  on  R.  R.  Sept.  17, 

1861 

Connor,  Henry 

Killed  on  R.  R.  Sept,  17, 

1861 

Craig,  Thos. 

"                                                 Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

as  Corporal 

Cramer,  John 

Dis.    Feb.   6,    1862,    dis 

ability 

Davis,  Geo.  W. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Deniken,  Vic. 

Dis.  Nov.  19,  1861,  dis 

ability 

Dennis,  Henry 

Dis.  Nov.  19,  1861,  dis 

ability 

Doering,  Rich. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Donnelly,  J. 

Deserted  June  10,  1862 

Douglas,  John 

Killed  on  R.  R.  Sept.  17, 

1861 

Dowling,  Steph. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Franks,  And. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Frost,  Wm. 

Bellevue,  la.                                   Killed  on  R,  R.  Sept.  17, 

1861 

Foley,  Mich.  V. 

Missing  Nov.  26,  1862 

Fowler,  Dtm'l 

Hanover                                          Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Fowler,  P.  M. 

Bellevue,  la.                                   Killed  on  R.  R.  Sept.  17, 

1861 

Fox,  Rich.  M. 

Dunleith                                          Dis.  to  enlist  in  4th  U.  S. 

Cav.  Nov.  25,  1862 

THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  I— Continued. 


121 


NAME  AND  RANK.       RESIDENCE. 


ENLISTED. 


REMARKS. 


PRIVATES. 
Galloway,  Wm.          Bellevuc,  la. 

Gand,  John  Galena 

Harmes,  Henry 
Harwick,  Jas. 

Hogan,  W.  F. 
Irvine,  Saml.  C. 

Jones,  Lyman  M.      Bellevuc,  la. 
Lamb,  Thos.  Galena 

Lesh,  James 

Leinberger,  Eug. 
Longhorn,  Jas. 
Matt,  Joseph 
Maloney,  Mich. 
Mensel,  Fred. 

Metzger,  John 

Michael,  J.  M. 
Morrisey,  John 
Morrison,  Thos. 

Noble,  Wm.  T. 
Nolan,  Robert 
Painter,  Alb.  H.  Dunleith 

Palmer,  H.  H.  Galena 

Petree,  John 

Rhea,  C.  H.  Bellevue,  la. 


June  17,  1861     Trans,  to  Sig.  Corps  Oct. 

22,  1863 

Wagoner,  Must,  out  July 

9,  1864 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Dis.  to  enlist  in  4th  U.  S. 

Cav.  Nov.  25,  1862 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Dis.  June  14,  1862,  dis 
ability 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Died  at  Nashville  Oct.  4, 

1862 

Dis.   Aug.   9,    1861,   dis 
ability 

Dis.  Aug.  26,  1861 
Prom,  to  1st  Lieut. 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Missing  Oct.  31,  1862 
Died  at  Nashville,  July 

23,  1862 

Dis.  Nov.  11,  1863,  dis 
ability 

"  Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

"  Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Died  at   Nashville  Feb. 

22,  1864 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Killed  on  R.  R.  Sept,  17, 

1861 

"  Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

"  Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

"  Must,  out    July   9,  1864  " 

as  Sergt. 


122 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  I — Continued. 


NAME  AND  RANK.       RESIDENCE. 

ENLISTED.                               REMARKS. 

PRIVATES. 

Ripin,  Alford             Galena 

June  17,  1861     Dis.  to  enlist  in  4th  U.  S. 

Cav.  Nov.  25,  1862 

Roffner,  Anth. 

Killed  on  R.  R.  Sept,  17, 

1861 

Schemerhorn,  C. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Scholtz,  Chas. 

Dis.  Mar.  17,  1863,  dis 

ability 

Smith,  Joseph 

Killed  on  R.  R.  Sept,  17, 

1861 

Smith,  Wm.  C. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

as  Corporal 

Snyder,  Dan. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

as  Corporal 

Streif,  Henry 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Thorp,  Wm.  D. 

Dis.  Aug.   7,    1862,   dis 

ability 

Tyler,  U.  P. 

"                 Dis.  Nov.  19,  1861,  dis 

ability 

Vickers,  Wm.  H. 

Dis.  July  31,  1862,  dis 

ability 

Waldner,  Chris. 

Died  at  Louisville  Feb. 

3,  1862 

Walker,  Abram. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Walker,  Rich. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Waulthour,  D.  B. 

Deserted  Jan.  6,  1862 

Weppo,  Wm. 

"                Dis.   Dec.  4,   1861,   dis 

ability 

Weinshornor,  H. 

Dis.  Nov.  5,   1861,  dis 

ability 

Wilson,  John 

Dis.  Aug.   1,   1861,   dis 

ability 

Winterstein,  Mil. 

"                Dis.  Nov.  5,   1861,  dis 

ability 

Wirth,  Augustus 

Dis.  Nov.  19,  1861,  dis 

ability 

THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 


123 


COMPANY  I — Continued. 


NAME  AND  RANK. 

RESIDENCE. 

ENLISTED. 

REMARKS. 

VETERAN. 

Breacher,  Jacob 

Chicago 

Dec.  24,  1863 

RECRUITS. 

Baldwin,  J.  H. 

Galena 

Oct.  2,  1861 

Dis.  Sept,  13,  1862,  dis 

ability 

Barnhart,  John 

" 

Oct.  22,  1861 

Died  at  Louisville  Jan 

10,  1862 

Breacher,  Jac. 

Chicago 

Dec.  10,  1861 

Re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Breizen,  Julius 

" 

July  5,  1861 

Dis.  May  24,  1862 

Bruce,  And.  J. 

Galena 

Oct.  22,  1861 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

Army  Corps 

Bruce,  Robt. 

" 

July  3,  1861 

Killed  on  R.  R.  Sept,  17, 

1861 

Cook,  Chas.  • 

a 

Oct.  1,  1861 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

Army  Corps 

Cookson,  J.  S. 

a 

Oct.  2,  1861 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

Army  Corps 

Connelly,  Mich. 

u 

July  5,  1861 

Killed  on  R.  R.  Sept,  17, 

1861 

Dawson,  Jas.  W. 

" 

July  2,  1861 

Dis.  Nov.  29,  1861,  dis 

ability 

Ellis,  Emanuel 

u 

Oct.  1,  1862 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

Army  Corps 

English,  Jas. 

Atkinson 

Dis.  July  31,  1862,  dis 

ability 

Gilmore,  Wm. 

Galena 

July  1,  1861 

Deserted  Aug.  2,  1862 

Clock,  John 

Chicago 

Dec.  10,  1861 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

Army  Corps 

Hardy,  Frank 

Galena 

July  5,  1861 

Dis.  Aug.  7,   1862,  dis 

ability 

Heath,  Chas.  G. 

Chicago 

Oct.  6,  1861 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

Army  Corps 

Hewitt,  Isaac 

Nov.  29,  1862 

Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

Army  Corps 

Honyer,  Leop. 

Galena 

July  4,  1861 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Keenan,  Frank 

it 

Deserted  Aug.  6,  1861 

124  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  I— Continued. 
NAME  AND  RANK.    RESIDENCE.  ENLISTED.  REMARKS. 

PRIVATES. 

Koley,  Earnest  Galena  Oct.  3,  1861  Dis.  Apr.  12,  1863,  dis 

ability 

McDowell,  S.  H.       Chicago  Nov.  18,  1861    Prom,  to  Sergt.  Major. 

McMarmers,  Thos.    Galena  July  4,  1861        Deserted  Aug.  1,  1861 

Plean,  Chris.  Dis.  Nov.  9,  1861,  dis 

ability 

Quinn,  Chas.  Murfreesboro  Apr.  4,  1862  Dis.  Nov.  9,  1862,  dis 

ability 

Rhine,  John  Galena  July  5,  1861  Died  Oct.  17,  1861,  of  in 

juries  in  R.  R.  accident 

Ringer,  Wm.  July  1,  1861  Killed  on  R.  R.  Sept.  17, 

1861 

Scott,  Henry  P.  Chicago  Nov.  7,  1861  Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C. 

Speck,  Augus.  Galena  July  5,  1861  Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C. 

Stacy,  Wm.  July  7,  1862  Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C. 

Thistlewaite,  C.  Oct.  1,  1861  Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C. 

Trittean,  John  Killed  at  Stone  River 

Dec.  31,  1862 

Vincent,  Wm.  Chicago  Nov.  8,  1861  Died  at  Elizabethtown 

Feb.  25,  1862 

WTalker,  Henry  H.     Galena  Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Winser,  Henry  Oct.  3,  1861  Trans,  to  H'dqu'trs  14th 

A.  C. 

COMPANY  K. 

SERGEANTS. 

Dorsoy,  Ed.  W.  Chicago  June  17,  1861  Dis.  Dec.  15,  1862,  dis 

ability 

Eckert,  Geo.  Dis.  Mar.  16,  1862  as  1st 

Sergt.,  disability 

Lamberson,  C.  V.      Cook  Co.  July  30,  1861      Prom,  to  2d  Lieut. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  K — Continued. 


125 


NAME  AND  RANK.           RESIDENCE. 

ENLISTED.                                  REMARKS. 

SERGEANTS. 

Fletcher,  H.  B.          Chicago 

June  17,  1861       Must,  out  July  9,    1861 

as  Private 

Hare,  Wm.  E. 

Must,   out  July  9,  1861 

as  Private 

CORPORALS. 

Ambrose,  R.  L. 

Dis.   June  4,    1863,   dis 

ability 

Bell,  Geo.  R. 

Dis.  July  22,   1861,  dis 

ability 

Cunningham,  W. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

as  Private 

Hoffman,  F.  J. 

Deserted  June  17,  1861 

James,  John  T. 

Died  at  Quincy  Sept.  3, 

1861 

Johnson,  Jos.  S. 

Must,  out   July   9,  1864 

as  1st  Sergt, 

McConnell,  J.  D. 

Must,   out  July  9,  1864 

as  Sergt. 

Scadin,  S.  H. 

Must,   out  July  9,   1864 

as  Private 

MUSICIANS. 

Campbell,  G.  C. 

Must,    out  July  9,  1864 

as  Private 

Reilly,  John 

Deserted  July  15,  1862 

PRIVATES. 

Austin,  John  H. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Bell,  V.  B. 

Prom.  Corp.,  Sergt,,  Maj. 

and  2d  Lieut. 

Benshel,  And. 

Deserted  July  16,  1862 

Berlence,  Chas. 

Deserted  July  12,  1861 

Black,  John 

"                Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Boig,  Jos.  J. 

"                 Deserted  June  1,  1862 

Borgus,  Arthur 

Dis.  Apr.  25,   1863,  dis 

ability 

126 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  K— Continued. 


NAME  AND  RANK.       RESIDENCE. 


ENLISTED. 


REMARKS. 


PRIVATES. 
Bowie,  Banks 
Bowie,  Steph. 

Breslauer,  M. 
Bush,  Hiram 
Butler,  Wm. 
Brinkman,  Gustus 
Carney,  Mich. 
Christian,  Wm.  H. 
Clark,  Lyman 

Cobb,  Joseph 
Cunningham,  Jas. 
Dwyer,  Jas.  A. 
Fenton,  James 

Ferrers,  Chas. 

Ferrers,  Geo. 
Fitzgibbon,  Wm. 
Fullerton,  Jas.  C. 


Grady,  Robt. 
Griffin,  Dan.  W. 

Gyer,  John 
Hanna,  J.  S. 

HeUer,  Albert 
Herricks,  Chas. 

Hettich,  Chas. 
Higgins,  Chas. 


Chicago 


June  17,  1861 


Deserted  Aug.  5,  1862 
Dis.  Mar.  16,  1862,  dis 
ability 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Prom,  to  Com'sy  Sergt. 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Died  at  Murfreesboro 

Apr.  14,  1863 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Dis.  Aug.  8,  1861 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,   1864 

as  Corporal. 
Trans,  to  V.  R.  C.  Sept. 

15,  1863 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Died     Jan.    2,    1863    of 

wounds  received  at 

Stone  River 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Killed    at    Stone    River 

Dec.  30,  1862 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Dis.  Aug.  12,  1862,  dis 
ability 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Dis.  Dec.  16,  1861,  dis 
ability 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Killed   at   Chicago   Oct. 

16,  1861 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  K — Continued. 


127 


NAME  AND  RANK.      RESIDENCE. 

ENLISTED.                            REMARKS. 

PRIVATES. 

Higginson,  Henry      Chicago 

June  17,  1861     Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Holman,  Wm.  E. 

Deserted  Mar.  17,  1862 

Johnson,  Thos. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Jones,  Isaac 

Dis.  Aug.  8,  1861 

Kenney,  Jas. 

Dis.  Aug.  8,  1861 

Kent,  Charles 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Kipp,  Wm.  H. 

Must,  out  July  9,    1864 

as  Corporal 

Lad  wick,  Chas. 

Dis.   Feb.   9,    1863,   dis 

ability 

Lang,  Emanuel 

Dis.  Mar.   1,   1864,  dis 

ability 

McCarthy,  John 

Must,  out  July  9,    1864 

as  Sergt. 

McDonald,  Patrick 

Must,  out  July  9,   1864 

as  Sergt. 

Meeker,  Jas.  D. 

Deserted  Feb.  20,  1863 

Merrifield,  J.  M. 

Dis.  Nov.  26,  1861,  dis 

ability 

Metz,  Louis 

Died  June  24,  1864 

Metz,  Wm. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Miller,  Mich.  L. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Newton,  John  B. 

Must,  out  July  9,    1864 

as  Sergt. 

Paris,  August 

Dis.  Apr.  20,  1862 

Pemberton,  Thos. 

Killed    at    Chickamauga 

Sept.  20,  1863 

Pemberton,  Geo. 

Dis.  Apr.  20,  1862 

Periolet,  Robt. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Potter,  Wm. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Reilly,  John 

On  detached  service  at 

Must,  out 

Russell,  Jos.  F. 

Must,  out  July  9,   1864 

as  Corporal 

128 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  K— Continued. 


NAME   AND  RANK.        RESIDENCE. 


ENLISTED. 


UK. MARKS. 


PRIVATES. 
Scott,  John 

Simpson,  And. 

Shepherd,  F.  H. 
Smith,  George 
Smith,  James, 
Smith,  Peter 
Stark,  Chas. 
Stephen,  John 

Stone,  Neii 

Swartz,  Henry 
Ucthman,  Gerh. 
Voice,  John 
Wagner,  Geo.  C. 
Waldcn,  Jas.  D. 
Walters,  John  M. 
Weir,  Robert 
Wells,  Ealon  A. 

Wright,  Chas. 

VETERAN. 
Stark,  Chailes 

RECRUITS. 
Anderson,  Thos. 


Ayers,  Chas.  S. 

Beechert,  Geo. 
Beiderrnan,  J.  B. 


Chicago  Juno  17,  1861     Dis.  May  28,   1862,  dis 

ability 
Killed  near  Pulaski,Tenn. 

Aug.  10,  1862 
Must,  out  May  30,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Re-enlisted  as  Veteran 
Must,  out  July   9,    1864 

as  Sergt. 
Must,  out  July   9,    1864 

as  Corporal 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 
Deserted  Dec.  20,  1862 
Dis.  July  28,  1862 
Dis.  Mar.  16,  1863,  dis 
ability 
Must,  out  Oct.  19,  1864 

Dec.  21,  1863     Must,  out  July  6,  1865 

Oct.  8,  1861  Died  at  Anderson ville 
Prison  Aug.  24,  1864, 
Grave  6,710 

Dis.  Nov.  25,  1861,  dis 
ability 

May  22,  1863     Turned  over  for  transfer 
Must,  out  July  9,  1864 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  K — Continued. 


129 


NAME  AND  RANK.       RESIDENCE. 

ENLISTED. 

REMARKS. 

PRIVATES. 

Bullen,  Edgar  M.      Chicago 

Nov. 

1,  1831 

Died     Feb.    3,    1863    of 

wounds 

Bunco,  Wm.  H. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Carney,  Lumas 

Dec.  8,  1861 

Colgrove,  Geo.           Waukegan 

Oct.* 

*,  1861 

Trans,  to  Gen.  Steadman 

Crocker,  Crafton       Chicago 

Deserted  Sept.  11,  1861 

Drake,  Jos.  A. 

Dis.  Feb.  25,   1863,  dis 

ability 

Driscoll,  Corn. 

Dis.  Mar.  31,  1863,  dis 

ability 

Gilbert,  Wm.  H. 

Oct.: 

B,  1861 

Trans,  to  Co.  A 

Gunn,  Henry             Waukegan 

Nov. 

1,  1861 

Dis.  Feb.  15,  1863,  dis 

ability 

Gunn,  Chancey 

Oct.  ! 

3,  1861 

Missing  since  action  at 

Manchester,  Tenn. 

Hoff,  John  A.             Chicago 

June 

18,  1861 

Dis.  Nov.  26,  1861,  dis 

ability 

Hoyt,  John  M. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Johnson,  Fred'k 

a 

Dis.  Nov.  26,  1861,  dis 

ability 

Lewis,  Henry 

Nov. 

1,  1861 

Turned  over  for  transfer 

Morgan,  Chas. 
O'Leary,  Arthur 

Apr. 

5,  1862 

Turned  over  for  transfer 
Turned  over  for  transfer 

Randolph,  Ab.  N. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

Reed,  Jerry 

May 

22,  1863 

Turned  over  for  transfer 

Sparr,  Martin 

Oct. 

8,  1861 

Deserted  July  15,  1862 

Stoughton,  H.  D. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

as  Corporal 

Tincholen,  Sam.  H.         " 

Died     in     Andersonville 

Prison  June  26,  1864, 

Grave  2,502 

WTells,  Joseph 

Apr. 

13,  1863 

Turned  over  for  transfer 

Wythe,  Walter  W. 

Must,  out  July  9,  1864 

UNDER  COOKS. 

James,  John 

Oct. 

11,  1863 

Turned  over  for  transfer 

130 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  K— Continued. 


NAME   AND  RANK.  RESIDENCE. 


ENLISTED. 


REMARKS. 


UNDER  COOKS. 
McCulloug'h,  Wm. 


Alexander,  Jas. 
Ferrington,  Chas. 
Hays,  Edward 
Hunter,  Benj.  D. 
Jones,  Jas.  H* 
King,  George 
Levy,  Michael 
Monaghan,  John 
Morissette,  A* 
Myers,  John 
O'Leary,  Jas. 
Roberts,  Hubbard 
Singleton,  Robt. 
White,  John 


Mar.  3,  1863      Turned  over  for  transfer 

UNASSIGNED  RECRUITS. 

Chicago  Dec.  24,  1863     Deserted  Dec.   29,  1863 

Dec.  13,  1862 

Jan.  12,  1864 

Peoria  Nov.  5,  1863 
Chicago  Jan.  12,  1864 

Jan.  9,  1864 

Feb.  15,  1864 

Jan.  14,  1864 

Feb.  2,  1864 

Jan.  18,  1864 

Jan.  26,  1864 

Dec.  23,  1863 

Dec.  14,  1863 

Sept.  27,  1862 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  131 

OUR  REGIMENTAL  LEADERS. 

Thus  far  for  the  rank  and  file,  by  companies;  those  who 
commanded  the  Regiment  are  still  to  be  accounted  for  in 
these  pages.  We  owe  it  to  our  two  Colonels  and  our  Lieu 
tenant  Colonel  to  give  them  all  possible  honor,  other  than 
they  will  receive  from  time  to  time,  in  this  work.  First  of  all 
comes  John  Basil  Turchin  (his  native  name  was  Turchinoff) . 
who  was  born  in  the  Valley  of  the  Don,  Empire  of  Rus 
sia,  January  18,  1822.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  attended 
the  Imperial  Military  School  at  St.  Petersburg^  where  he 
obtained  the  rudiments  of  an  education  for  officers.  After 
graduating  he  received  a  Lieutenant's  commission  in  the 
Czar's  Army,  where  his  talents  soon  gained  him  promotion, 
and  he  was  raised  to  the  rank  of  Captain  on  tjie  General 
Staff.  Then  he  returned  to  the  Imperial  Military  School 
and  remained  there  three  years,  finishing  the  theoretical 
part  of  his  education.  At  the  beginning  of  the  Crimean 
War  he  received  an  appointment  on  the  staff  of  the  Crown 
Prince  (afterward  Alexander  II,  Emperor  of  Russia),  a 
rank  corresponding  in  our  service  to  that  of  Assistant  Adju 
tant  General  of  a  Corps  Commander.  The  plan  adopted 
for  the  defenses  of  the  coast  of  Finland  was  prepared  by 
Captain  Turchinoff,  and  to  him  was  intrusted  the  superin 
tendence  of  their  construction.  They  were  considered 
among  the  most  elaborate  and  scientific  specimens  of  mili 
tary  engineering  in  Europe  at  that  time. 

Having  imbibed  democratic  ideas  at  an  early  age,  Tur 
chin  now  found  himself  impelled  to  go  to  America  and, 
managing  to  quit  Russia,  he  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1856,  to  soon  find  employment  in  the  engineering  depart 
ment  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  a  corporation  which 
furnished  several  Generals  to  the  Union  service,  notably 
McClellan,  Burnside,  Banks,  and  Turchin.  For,  when 


132  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

that  war  broke  out  for  the  defense  of  those  same  ideas  which 
led  him  to  abandon  his  Fatherland,  Turchin  made  known  his 
desire  to  enlist  in  the  Union  cause,  and  was  thereupon  com 
missioned  Colonel  of  the  Nineteenth  Illinois,  destined  to 
become  "one  of  the  best  drilled,  most  marched,  heaviest 
battle-scarred  regiments  that  ever  sustained  the  honor  of 
Illinois  in  the  field.  While  still  in  camp  at  Chicago,  it  had 
become  celebrated  for  its  excellence  of  drill  and  esprit  de 
corps.  Colonel  Turchin  gave  to  it  his  constant  personal 
attention  and  inspection,  and  was  ever  vigilant  and  unwear 
ied  in  making  it  a  model  regiment.  He  led  it  through  many 
hard,  wearisome  marches  and  in  numerous  skirmishes  and 
combats,  all  of  which  early  made  its  name  of  Nineteenth  the 
synonym  of  success. "*  Turchin  was  our  commander  in 
Missouri;  through  Kentucky;  on  the  march  to  Nashville, 
Tennessee;  on  the  swift  rush  to  Hunts ville,  Alabama,  under 
0.  M.  Mitchel;  on  the  dash  into  Athens,  Alabama,  where 
his  men  were  charged  with  misconduct  and  for  this  was 
court-martialed  and  the  verdict  was  dismissal  from  the 
service.  He  at  once  returned  to  his  home  in  Chicago,  ac 
companied  by  his  wife  (dear  Madame  Turchin!  how  we  all 
respected,  believed  in,  and  came  to  love  her  for  her  bravery, 
gentleness  and  constant  care  of  the  sick  and  wounded  in  the 
Regiment),  who  had  long  shared  his  dangers  and  privations 
on  the  march  and  in  the  field,  to  be  welcomed  like  a  conquer 
ing  hero.  Before  the  sentence  of  the  Court  Martial  could 
be  promulgated,  the  President  of  the  United  States  had  ap 
pointed  and  commissioned  Turchin  as  Brigadier  General, 
whereupon  he  at  once  returned  to  the  front,  and  was  assigned 
to  the  command  of  a  gallant  brigade  in  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland. 

General  Turchin  was  a  man  of  medium  stature  and  strong 

*" Patriotism  of  Illinois." 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  133 

frame,  slightly  inclined  to  corpulence,  with  a  massive  well- 
formed  head,  and  a  face  full  of  intelligence.     His  counte 
nance  was  expressive  and  genial;  he  possessed  a 'delicate 
humor,  but  was  inflexible  in  will  and  most  decided  in  purpose. 
He  was  impulsive,  full  of  energy,  thought  and  acted  quickly, 
and  was  rarely  placed  in  any  position  where  he  could  not 
muster  resources  to  meet  its  emergencies.     His  constant 
conduct,  after  leaving   the   Nineteenth,    was,    as    Brigade 
Commander  of  the  noblest  and  bravest  order,  and  he  played 
an  important  and  valorous  part  in  the  great  Battle  of  Chick- 
amauga.     Toward  the  end  of  our  term  of  service,  in  May, 
1864,  to  be  exact,  wishing  to  show  his  abiding  love  for  us 
he  asked  for,  and  secured,  the  transfer  of  the  Regiment  to 
the  brigade  he  was  then   commanding.     The  exact  time 
and  the  circumstances  when  and  under  which  this  transfer 
was  carried  out  is  given  by  Brigadier  General  Richard  W. 
Johnson,    commanding   First    Division,    Fourteenth   Aimy 
Corps.     His  report  includes  the  division's  operations  from 
the  opening  of  the  Atlanta  Campaign  down  to  the  thirteenth 
of  June,  1864,  at  which  period  he  was  compelled  by  a  disa 
bility  resulting  from  injuries  received  in  action  to  turn  over 
the  command  to  Brigadier  General  King.     Johnson  says: 
uOn  the  third  of  May,  pursuant  to  instructions  received 
from  the  Major  General  commanding  the  corps,  I  moved 
from  Graysville,  Georgia,  to  Ringgold,  Georgia,  leaving  an 
outpost  of  two  regiments,  the  Nineteenth  Illinois  -  Infantry 
and  Twenty-fourth  Illinois  Infantry,  at  Parker's  Gap,  to 
hold  that  pass  until  the  advance    of  the  troops  from  the 
direction  of  Cleveland  would  cover  it.     On  the  day  but  one 
following,    these    regiments,    having    been    relieved,    were 
transferred  to  the  Brigade  of  General  Turchin,  in  the  Third 
Division." 

At  that  time  there  were  only  fifteen  officers  and  two 
hundred  and  thirty-nine  men  with  the  Regiment.     Turchin 


134  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

was  our  Brigade  commander  at  the  battle  of  Resaca,  and 
we  remained  with  him  until  we  reached  Ackworth,  where 
we  left  the  front  for  "God's  Country."  General  Turchin's 
life  after  the  war  was  largely  one  of  trials  and  tribulations, 
but  he  was  ever  honorable  and  hopeful,  always  a  devoted 
friend  to  his  old  companions  in  arms,  no  matter  what  their 
rank  and  position  in  the  service,  a  good  Comrade,  and  a 
gentleman  of  the  best  make. 

Colonel  Joseph  R.  Scott  was  one  of  Nature's  noblemen, 
in  every  sense  of  the  expression.  He  was  generous,  he  was 
gallant,  he  was  courageous,  he  was  always  ready  and  willing; 
he  was  among  the  best  beloved  of  all  army  officers.  In 
character  he  was  beautifully  devoted  to  his  adopted  Country, 
to  its  Flag,  and  to  those  for  whom  he  was  so  largely  respon 
sible.  In  personal  appearance  he  was  handsome,  distin 
guished,  soldiery;  his  flashing  dark  eyes,  his  genial  speech, 
his  joyous  laugh,  his  mobility  of  expression,  his  loyalty  to 
the  Regiment  and  devotion  to  its  men,  both  rank  and  file, 
are  but  a  few  of  the  best  things  we  shall  ever  cherish  in  his 
memory.  We  remember  especially  his  valorous  behavior 
on  the  skirmish  day,  that  is  to  say,  the  thirteenth  of  Decem 
ber,  of  the  battle  of  Stone  River.  Colonel  "Joe"  and  the 
present  writer  were  very  close  together  on  that  occasion. 
The  companies  on  the  skirmish  line  were  compelled  to  give 
up  chasing  rebels  when  we  ran  up  against  that  brick-kiln 
gathering,  and  then  we  became  the  pursued  in  place  of  the 
pursuers.  In  the  sudden  fall  back  Colonel  Scott  and  the 
writer  ran  a  "dead-heat,"  neither  of  us  able  to  show  his 
heels  to  the  other,  for  something  like  thirty  yards,  and  we 
dropped  simultaneously  behind  two  very  large  gateposts, 
glad  to  have  a  chance  to  catch  our  second  wind  and  be 
protected  at  the  same  time.  It  is  true  the  "Johnnies" 
stayed  their  progress  in  our  direction  before  we  reached 
the  gate-posts;  and  in  a  very  few  moments  the  Nineteenth's 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  135 

skirmishers  were  in  line  again;  but  as  we  look  back  on  the 
incident  now  it  seems  more  amusing  than  tragic,  although 
it  was  that  then  in  every  particular.  We  remember  that 
while  thus  hurriedly  falling  back  the  bullets  from  the  enemy's 
muskets  were  so  plentiful  that  their  zizzing  seemed  like  unto 
the  buzzing  of  angry  bees,  and  there  was  at  least  one  sol 
dier  in  that  group  of  two  who  turned  up  his  overcoat  collar 
as  a  protection  to  the  "creatures"  threatening  to  sting  him 
badly. 

Colonel  Scott  was  born  in  Canada  in  1838,  although  he 
came  to  this  country  when  he  was  only  twelve  years  of  age. 
In  1856  he  began  the  formation  of  the  National  Guard  Ca 
dets,  in  Chicago,  afterwards  famous  throughout  America 
as  the  United  States  Zouaves.  In  the  early  progress  of  the 
organization,  young  Ellsworth  came  to  Chicago,  and  Scott, 
finding  in  him  a  kindred  spirit,  pressed  him  to  accept  the 
Captaincy,  while  he  served  as  Lieutenant.  To  this  arrange 
ment  Ellsworth  finally  agreed,  and  little  did  either  of  these 
young  gentlemen  then  suspect  that  both  would  lose  their 
lives  ir  war  in  the  near  future,  both  as  real  heroes,  however, 
noble  and  gallant  to  an  eminent  degree.  When  Scott  be 
came  our  ranking  officer  at  Springfield  he  was  one  of  the 
youngest  Colonels  in  the  Union  Army,  not  yet  having 
reached  his  twenty-third  year.  It  was  when  we  were  about 
to  become  a  three-years'  Regiment  that  Colonel  "Joe's" 
characteristic  generosity  again  shone  out;  for  though  he 
was  the  choice  of  the  Nineteenth,  he  voluntarily  gave  way  to 
Turchin,  and  became  second  in  command  to  that  distin 
guished  Russian.  In  August,  1862,  on  the  latter's  promo 
tion,  Scott  again  became  our  Colonel,  in  which  rank  and  office 
he  continued  to  the  time  of  his  death.  It  was  the  Battle 
of  Stone  River,  fought  December  31,  1862,  January  2  and 
3,  1863,  which  wove  a  garland  of  immortality  for  him,  as  we 


136  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

shall  see  when  dealing  with  that  engagement.  In  a  memo 
rable  charge  Colonel  "Joe"  fell  seriously  wounded  at  the 
head  of  his  column.  As  soon  as  possible  he  was  taken  to  his 
home  in  Chicago,  where  he  had  all  the  help  that  surgical 
science  and  skillful  treatment  could  afford,  besides  the  care 
ful  nursing  of  his  beloved  and  devoted  wife,  but  all  in  vain. 
He  died  from  the  effects  of  his  wound  on  the  eighth  of  July, 
1863,  and  so  the  Union  lost  one  of  its  most  loyal  and  valorous 
soldiers. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Alexander  W.  Raffen  was  born  in 
Cupar,  Fifeshire,  not  far  from  St.  Andrew's  Bay,  Scotland. 
He  was  only  a  boy  when  he  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1849,  and  in  1853  he  began  business  in  Chicago  as  a  plumber. 
In  1856  he,  with  several  others,  organized  the  Highland 
Guard,  an  independent  military  company,  continued  an 
active  member  of  it,  and  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebel 
lion  was  its  First  Lieutenant.  On  Mr.  Lincoln's  first  call 
for  troops  he  forsook  a  growing  business  to  take  up  arms  in 
defense  of  his  adopted  country  and,  as  Captain  of  the  High 
land  Guard,  which  organization  soon  became  Company  E, 
of  Ours,  began  his  military  career.  On  the  request  of  the 
officers  of  the  Nineteenth  he  was  promoted,  on  Scott's  ad 
vancement  to  the  Colonelcy,  to  be  Lieutenant  Colonel,  and 
when  the  latter  fell  he  assumed  command  of  the  Regiment. 
This  position  of  honor  and  responsibility  he  continued  to  hold 
until  we  were  mustered  out  in  July,  1864.  Raffen  had  the 
unbounded  confidence  of  his  superior  officers,  and  on  several 
occasions  was  given  duties  which  called  for  skill,  courage  and 
coolness;  on  all  these  occasions  he  performed  the  duties  ex 
pected  of  him  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  superiors  and 
to  the  lasting  credit  of  the  Regiment  he  commanded. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

PAGE 

SERVICE  IN  MISSOURI    ....  139 

MOVED  TO  CAIRO  AND  ORDERED  TO  WASHINGTON  143 
RAILROAD  ACCIDENT. 

ORDERED   TO   KENTUCKY 146 

COMPANY  G  BECOMES  BRIDGES'  BATTERY  .  155 

CORPORAL  MOREHOUSE'S  FIRST  EXPERIENCE  WITH 

PICKET  GUARD 156 

GEN.  GEO.  H.  THOMAS  .    .  160 

OCCUPATION  OF  BOWLING  GREEN  162 

OCCUPATION  OF  NASHVILLE,  TENN.   .  162 

OCCUPATION  OF  MURFREESBORO  .  163 

MARCH  TO  AND  CAPTURE  OF  HUNTSVILLE,  ALA.  165 

SERVICE  IN  ALABAMA 166 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  139 


CHAPTER  IV. 

It  seems  now  that  our  stay  at  Camp  Long  was  a  very 
protracted  one,  yet  were  we  there  only  a  little  more  than  a 
month— but  in  the  meantime :  From  the  start  Turchin  and 
Scott  made  it  clear  to  every  member  of  the  Regiment  that 
Ours  was  to  be  the  best  in  the  service,  if  hard  work  could 
bring  it  about;  and,  helped  by  several  officers  and  Sergeants 
who  had  belonged  to  the  original  Company  of  Ellsworth 
Zouaves  and  Highland  Guards — the  officers  of  other  com 
panies  were  also  helpful — Colonel  Turchin  utilized  those 
few  weeks  at  Camp  Long  most  efficiently.  Indeed,  he  pur 
sued  his  endeavors  in  that  respect  in  future  whenever  the 
Nineteenth  was  not  on  the  march  or  fighting,  and  finally 
succeeded  in  making  it  the  best  drilled  battalion  in  all  the 
Western  forces.  No  wonder  that  the  Inspector  General 
of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  in  one  of  his  official  reports, 
should  point  to  the  Nineteenth  Illinois  as  "an  example  to  be 
followed  by  all  the  other  regiments  in  the  Union  service." 

Brigadier  General  John  Pope  having  been  appointed  to 
command  troops  in  North  Missouri,  and  Brigadier  General 
Stephen  A.  Hurlbut  to  command  troops  in  Northwestern 
Missouri  under  Pope,  with  headquarters  at  Quincy,  Illinois, 
the  Nineteenth  received  orders  to  at  once  move  by  rail  and 
report  to  Hurlbut.  The  twelfth  of  July,  1861,  the  Regi 
ment  struck  tents  and,  moving  out  of  camp,  marched  to  the 
railroad  station  in  Chicago,  whence,  amidst  touching  scenes 
of  parting  cheers,  waving  of  hats  and  flags,  the  men  crowded 
on  to  the  cars,  the  locomotives  whistled,  the  people  shouted 
their  fond  adieux,  and  so  the  Nineteenth  started  on  its  martial 


140  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

career  of  three  years  of  service,  voluntarily,  patriotically,  and 
gladly  given  to  the  Nation  and  to  the  Government.  The 
next  evening  it  arrived  at  Quincy,  and  on  the  fourteenth  of 
July  received  orders  from  General  Hurlbut  to  relieve  the 
Twenty-first  Illinois,  under  Colonel  U.  S.  Grant,  posted 
along  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joe  Railroad  from  opposite 
Quincy  to  Palmyra,  Missouri,  and  thence  to  Hannibal  in 
the  same  State.  During  several  weeks  of  stay  in  that  re 
gion  the  Regiment,  besides  guarding  important  railroad 
bridges,  made  several  expeditions  to  different  points  in  the 
neighborhood,  chased  away  newly  organized  Confederate 
companies,  destroyed  their  barracks  and  provisions,  obliged 
the  citizens  to  give  pledges  not  to  support  any  more  such 
organizations,  encouraged  formations  of  Home  Guards  at 
Palmyra  and  Newark,  suppressed  Secessionists,  encouraged 
Unionists,  and  otherwise  conducted  itself  in  the  best  possible 
manner. 

Many  incidents  well  worth  recording  in  these  pages 
might  be  given.  One  morning  the  present  writer  was  or 
dered  by  the  Orderly  Sergeant  of  Company  D  to  report  to 
the  Sergeant  Major,  a  man  who  was  always  famous  among 
the  true  sportsmen  of  America,  "Uncle  Bill"  Curtis,  of  hon 
orable  memory.  He  passed  through  many  battles  unscathed 
during  the  war,  lived  a  good  and  sober  life  in  New  York 
City  until  1904,  and  then  perished  miserably  in  a  blizzard 
on  a  mountainside  in  New  Hampshire.  Curtis  was  found 
at  headquarters  and  he  said :  "  We  will  go  out  into  the  woods 
and  see  if  we  can  gather  in  any  game."  The  couple  started 
off  afoot,  Curtis  walking,  the  other  man  at  a  trot — it  would 
have  been  impossible  to  keep  up  with  him  otherwise.  He  had 
been  a  noted  athlete  before  the  war,  at  one  time  holding  the 
record  as  a  weight-lifter;  wearing  a  kind  of  harness,  which 
helped  him  some,  he  lifted  nearly  3,000  pounds.  He  played 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  141 

with  100-pound  dumb  bells  with  ease,  was  almost  a  cham 
pion  runner  and  walker,  likewise  a  magnificent  oarsman— 
in  short  a  modern  Sampson  in  every  way.  We  kept  to  the 
road  for  two  or  three  miles,  then  struck  into  the  timber,  to 
come  presently  to  a  farmhouse  of  goodly  size.  This  he 
entered,  posting  the  other  man  on  watch;  and  presently 
reappeared  to  call  the  latter  inside.  A  well-built  farmer, 
two  women  and  one  child,  all  dressed  in  homespun  garments, 
were  in  the  wide  hall  expostulating  with  Curtis.  He  handed 
his  ally  a  rifle,  a  horn  of  powder  and  a  bag  of  newly  cast 
bullets.  Then  he  loaded  himself  with  another  gun,  more 
ammunition,  a  stout  sword  and  a  small  box.  Bidding  the  fame 
ily  good  day,  and  warning  the  farmer  to  keep  out  of  trouble- 
we  departed  for  camp  seven  miles  away.  Before  half  the, 
distance  had  been  tramped  that  heavy  rifle  was  weighing 
hundreds  of  pounds,  and  by  and  by  the  Corporal  could  no 
longer  keep  up  with  the  swift-walking  Sergeant  Major. 
Indeed  only  by  running  a  scrambling  gait  was  the  former 
able  to  remain  anywhere  near  the  famous  athlete.  However, 
the  couple  reached  camp  together  in  course  of  time.  More 
than  a  year  after,  when  Curtis  was  Captain  and  Assistant 
Adjutant  General  on  Turchin's  staff,  he  laughingly  admitted 
to  the  writer  that  he  was  " trying  out"  his  companion  on 
that  occasion  in  Missouri. 

"Was  the  old  rifle  worth  the  danger  we  incurred  and  the 
imposition  on  me?"  Curtis  was  asked. 

"No,"  was  the  reply.  "It  was  worth  nothing  at  all. 
But  it  meant  a  great  deal  to  me  to  find  out  what  you  were 
capable  of  when  put  to  the  test." 

Another  incident  of  a  personal  nature  may  be  mentioned. 
Before  the  Regiment  left  that  locality  the  p  resent  writer  was 
sent  on  horseback,  as  dispatch-bearer  to  a  command  sta 
tioned  eight  or  ten  miles  distance,  with  orders  to  hurry  along. 
Galloping  down  as  fair  a  road,  bordered  by  trees  and  bushes, 


142  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

as  one  could  wish  for,  suddenly  the  rider  felt  a  sharp  hot 
burn  across  his  forehead,  which  was  instantly  followed  by 
the  sound  of  a  gunshot.  Then  a  bit  of  blood  trickled  into 
his  .right  eye,  and  he  knew  that  he  had  been  fired  on  by  a 
Missouri  guerrilla.  Had  his  horse  been  moving  the  merest 
trifle  faster,  the  bullet  would  undoubtedly  have  ended  that 
young  soldier's  army  service  then  and  there  forever. 

At  the  end  of  July,  1861,  the  Nineteenth  received  orders 
to  take  boats  at  Hannibal  and  proceed  by  river  to  St.  Louis, 
where  we  remained  only  a  short  time.  There  we  were  under 
command  of  Major  General  John  C.  Fremont,  a  man  without 
genius,  of  talents  and  energy  greatly  overrated,  and  who 
had  been  put  at  the  head  of  the  Department  of  Missouri 
with  highest  anticipations.  " Never  was  hope  more  cruelly 
deceived;  a  few  weeks  were  enough  to  prove  him  vain,  shal 
low,  and  weak."  We  were  in  St.  Louis  long  enough  to  see 
something  of  Fremont  and  his  famous  headquarters — a 
scene  of  pomp  and  circumstances,  undoubtedly,  but  from 
whence  no  real  deeds  of  war  were  ever  ordered.  About  him 
rode  the  most  showy  body-guard  of  mounted  " warriors" 
this  country  has  ever  seen.  His  staff  was  numerous,  and  in 
public,  whatever  it  may  have  done  indoors,  it  shone  brightly 
in  uniform  richly  gilded,  even  though  its  keen  swords  may 
never  have  been  unsheathed  in  the  face  of  danger. 

About  the  time  Fremont  reached  St.  Louis,  from  New 
York,  the  Confederate  General  Pillow  moved  a  strong  force 
to  New  Madrid,  Missouri,  a  few  miles  below  the  junction 
of  the  Ohio  and  the  Mississippi  Rivers,  and  thus  threatened 
Cairo,  the  strategic  key  to  those  streams.  Our  Regiment 
was  sent  with  the  force  which  Fremont  hastened  to  Bird's 
Point,  opposite  Cairo,  on  the  Missouri  side.  Six  or  eight  regi 
ments  went  to  Pope,  and  as  many  more  to  Prentiss,  swift 
enough,  but  Fremont  utterly  neglected  the  third  and  greatest 
point  of  danger — the  safety  of  Lyon  and  his  dwindling  force 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  143 

in  Southwestern  Missouri.  On  the  Nineteenth's  arrival 
at  Bird's  Point,  it  was  immediately  detailed  to  Norfolk,  six 
miles  further  down  the  river,  as  an  advanced  guard,  where 
our  duties  were  both  arduous  and  difficult.  Then  the  infor 
mation  that  a  portion  of  Pillow's  army  was  advancing  with 
a  view  to  capturing  Ironton  and  the  railroad  originated 
another  hurried  expedition  in  which  we  participated. 

The  fourteenth  of  August  our  small  force  left  Norfolk, 
took  boats  at  Bird's  Point,  went  up  the  Mississippi,  landed 
opposite  Sulphur  Springs  Station,  on  the  St.  Louis  andiron- 
ton  Railroad,  and  thence  went  by  rail  to  Ironton,  from  which 
place,  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  August,  it  moved  as  a  part  of 
an  expedition  under  Brigadier  General  Prentiss,  consisting 
of  six  regiments  of  infantry,  one  battery  of  artillery,  and  a 
squadron  of  calvary,  towards  Dallas  and  Jackson.  Ap 
proaching  Dallas,  where  it  was  expected  to  meet  the  enemy, 
Prentiss  instructed  Colonel  Turchin  to  move  with  his  Reg 
iment  as  an  advance  guard  of  the  column,  but  no  opposi 
tion  was  encountered.  The  column  stopped  at  Jackson, 
and  on  the  eighth  of  September  moved  to  Cape  Girardeau, 
took  boats  there  and  went  to  Cairo.  The  Nineteenth  was 
then  ordered  to  cross,  to  the  Kentucky  shore  and  go  into 
camp.  After  staying  there  a  few  days  we  were  sent,  together 
with  the  Seventeenth  Illinois,  under  Colonel  L.  F.  Ross, 
down  the  stream  to  occupy  Ellicot's  Mills,  twelve  miles 
north  of  Columbus,  on  the  Mississippi  River. 

While  there  the  Regiment  received  orders  to  proceed  to 
Washington,  D.  C.  Going  to  Cairo  by  boat,  we  took  the 
train  September  16th,  and  if  all  had  gone  well  the  gallant 
Nineteenth  would  in  all  probability  have  soon  been  num 
bered  among  McClellan's  regiments  down  in  old  Virginia. 
At  Sandoval  on  the  seventeenth,  we  changed  cars  to  a  train 
on  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad  and  proceeded  on  our 
way  to  Cincinnati;  The  instructions  to  the  engineer  were : 


}44  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

"You  are  to  make  as  good  time  as  possible,  with  due  regard 
to  safety."  The  train  had  been  divided  into  two  sections! 
the  first  carried  Companies  A,  B,  C,  D,  and  F,  with  baggage 
and  camp  equipment;  the  second  consisted  of  Companies 
E,  G,  H,  I,  and  K,  with  the  regimental  staff;  and  it  was  in 
the  early  night  of  September  17,  at  about  ten  o'clock  when  a 
most  awful  accident  occurred,  one  which  caused  the  Nine 
teenth  a  loss  in  life  nearly  as  great  as  any  of  the  battles  in 
which  we  fought  during  the  whole  of  our  term  of  service. 

About  forty-six  miles  east  of  Vincennes,  Indiana,  the 
second  train  broke  through  the  bridge  and  trestle  No.  48, 
crossing  Beaver  Creek,  between  Shoals  and  Mitchel,  and  in 
that  catastrophe  twenty-four  men,  including  a  Captain, 
were  killed  on  the  spot,  while  no  fewer  than  one  hundred 
and  five  were  more  or  less  injured.  Of  these  some  died  in 
the  hospitals  at  Cincinnati  soon  afterward;  others  were 
crippled  for  life;  but  there  were  those  who  recovered  and 
joined  the  Regiment,  to  become  among  our  best 
soldiers.  The  first  section  had  passed  over  the  trestle 
without  trouble,  but  when  the  second  section  got  to 
the  bridge  there  was  suddenly  heard  the  awful  crash  of  piled- 
up  cars,  and  the  loud  shrieks  of  human  beings  in  mortal 
agony.  We  lost,  in  killed  and  injured,  within  those  few 
moments  of  awful  railroad  accident  something  like  one  hun 
dred  and  thirty  men,  including  Captain  Bushrod  B.  Howard 
of  Company  I,  the  one  company  which  suffered  most,  as  it 
was  in  the  car  that  first  went  down  into  the  shallow  stream, 
deep  below.  The  first  section  quickly  returned  to  the  spot 
and  its  soldier-passengers  were  soon  doing  everything  pos 
sible  for  their  suffering  comrades.  Fires  were  built  on  the 
banks  of  the  creek,  and  both  dead  and  injured  were  handled 
carefully,  as  the  bodies  were  laid  near  these  places  of  warmth. 
Ever  devoted,  Madame  Turchin,  our  Colonel's  beloved  wife 
and  companion,  had  soon  torn  her  skirts  into  bandages  and 


I 

3 

K 

! 

CD 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  145 

these  were  applied  to  the  men's  injuries;  she  herself  was  of 
the  greatest  assistance  in  the  work  of  relief  and  of  caring 
for  those  who  were  suffering.  The  locomotive  and  one  car 
passed  safely  over  the  trestle,  and  the  second  car  was  partly 
across,  when  the  structure  gave  way,  letting  the  rear  end  of 
it  down  to  the  bed  of  the  stream;  the  next  car  plunged  into 
that  one,  while  the  third  car  tore  through  the  top  of  this 
second  one,  thus  making  the  wreck  a  horrible  pit  of  death 
and  disabilities.  The  fourth  car  was  hanging  on  the  brink 
but  jammed  into  the  third,  and  between  these  two  coaches 
Lieutenant  Clifton  Wharton  was  caught  and  held  so  tightly 
that  he  could  not  be  released  without  the  aid  of  an  axe, 
every  blow  of  which  must  have  been  torture  to  that  gallant 
and  gentlemanly  officer.  Company  I  was  in  the  first  two 
cars  that  went  down,  and  it  was  easy  to  see  from  the  position 
of  those  coaches  that  the  boys  of  I  Company  were  all  thrown 
into  one  end  of  it,  thus  causing  that  company  to  lose  the 
greater  number  of  killed  in  the  awful  accident. 

After  remaining  at  the  scene  of  the  wreck  for  what  then 
seemed  an  unnecessarily  long  time  before  relief  arrived, 
the  Regiment  proceeded  on  its  way  to  Cincinnati.  Impro 
vised  beds  were  prepared  with  car  cushions,  our  suffering 
comrades  made  comfortable,  all  the  officers  and  enlisted  men, 
from  the  Colonel  down  to  the  under  cooks,  and  of  course 
including  Madame  Turchin,  helping  to  their  utmost  in  this 
work  of  relief.  On  our  arrival  at  Cincinnati  the  train  was 
met  by  prominent  citizens,  the  injured  were  placed  in  car 
riages  and  conveyed  to  hospitals,  the  dead  were  carried  to 
the  undertakers,  and  those  of  us  who  were  uninjured  marched 
to  one  of  the  large  market-houses  where  a  substantial  dinner 
was  served.  We  bivouacked  that  night  and  the  next  day 
started  with  our  late  comrades  on  the  way  to  their  last  rest 
ing  place  in  a  distant  Cemetery  Along  the  line  of  mournful 
march  Cincinnati  had  taken  on  the  gloom  of  many  deaths, 


146  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

and  slow  and  solemn  were  the  airs  which  several  bands 
dirged  for  us  and  for  those  for  whom  we  sorrowed.  After 
we  had  thus  marched,  with  reversed  arms,  for  a  few  miles  it 
wras. decided  to  return  to  the  Railroad  Station  and  resume 
our  journey  to  Washington,  leaving  to  the  City  authorities 
and  the  Ministers  of  Cincinnati  the  duty  of  concluding  the 
funeral  service,  and  which  they  did  tenderly,  lovingly  and 
patriotically.  But  hardly  had  we  reached  the  station  when 
we  were  ordered  to  go  into  camp  at  Camp  Dennison,  and 
there  we  remained  for  a  few  days. 

Then  came  orders  to  proceed  by  boats  to  Louisville, 
Kentucky,  where  we  arrived  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  Septem 
ber,  and  on  that  same  day,  after  being  reviewed  by  General 
Robert  Anderson,  in  command,  we  went  by  rail  to  Lebanon 
Junction,  thirty-five  miles  South  of  Louisville,  where  the 
regiment  relieved  some  Kentucky  troops  and  went  into 
camp.  Here  we  remained  for  about  a  month,  meanwhile 
securing  increased  information  as  to  the  manual  of  arms, 
guard  mounting,  picket  duty,  and  battalion  movements. 
Verily,  Colonel  Turchin  and  his  subordinate  officers  were 
an  energetic  group  of  leaders.  General  Anderson  having 
been  relieved  by  Brigadier  General  W.  T.  Sherman,  the  con 
centration  of  Union  forces  at  Mumfordsville  necessitated 
the  moving  up  of  the  troops  in  the  rear,  and  on  the  twenty- 
second  of  October  the  Nineteenth  received  orders  to  pro 
ceed  to  Elizabethtown,  a  few  miles  further  along  on  the 
Louisville  and  Nashville  Railroad ;  there  we  went  into  camp 
again  and,  it  may  be  added  incidentally,  to  drilling  once  more. 

Elizabethtown  is  the  county  seat  of  Hardin  county, 
Kentucky,  and  we  found  it  a  very  pretty  place  of  about 
1,000  inhabitants.  Whatever  it  may  now  be,  it  was  then  a 
well  built  town,  many  of  the  houses  and  stores  being  con 
structed  of  brick,  giving  it  an  appearance  of  thrift  and  ease. 
The  Eagle  Hotel  was  quite  a  tavern,  while  a  boarding  house 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  147 

kept  by  Mrs.  Hill  was  like  home.  There  were  some  excel 
lent  Union  families  in  Elizabethtown,  but  most  of  them  were 
"secesh, "  and  had  to  be  handled  carefully;  with  the  pleasant 
result  that  many  of  the  ladies  used  to  turn  out  regularly  at 
the  Regiment's  dress-parades,  and  they  seemed  to  greatly 
enjoy  our  cleverness  in  battalion  movements.  Camp  was 
situated  upon  a  hill  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  a  north 
easterly  direction  from  the  railway  station,  and  the  view 
thence  was  beautiful.  On  the  whole  the  boys  were  con 
tented  and  happy  with  their  lot,  but  there  was  a  constant 
longing  to  get  a  chance  to  test  our  skill  in  real  battles.  How 
ever,  we  received  a  goodly  share  of  that  sort  of  thing  later  on 
in  life. 

On  our  approach  to  that  town  the  owners  of  a  local 
weekly  newspaper  fled  the  place  and  certain  printers  in  the 
Regiment  took  possession  of  the  premises  of  the  "  Elizabeth- 
town  Democrat."  The  plant  was  not  at  all  a  bad  one,  it 
was  easy  to  bring  out  a  regimental  organ,  and  so  "The 
Zouave  Gazette'''  came  into  existence.  It  may  never  have 
been  a  powerful  political  sheet,  like  many  a  northern  news 
paper,  but  it  was  in  close  touch  with  the  soldiers  at  the  front, 
for,  in  those  days,  Elizabethtown  was  " right  smart  near" 
the  enemy,  especially  the  enterprising  and  clever  John 
Morgan.  When  the  first  number  of  The  Zouave  Gazette 
was  on  sale,  great  was  the  success  thereof.  Its  carriers  not 
only  supplied  the  officers  and  men  of  the  Nineteenth,  but 
went  as  far  afield  as  Lebanon  Junction,  where  hundreds  of 
copies  were  disposed  of  to  the  two  Pennsylvania  regiments 
encamped  at  that  place.  Between  issues  the  assistant 
business  manager  "worked"  Louisville  merchants  for 
advertisements,  and  among  those  that  responded  by  insert 
ing  paid-for  announcements  in  succeeding  issues  was  a  firm 
whose  large  trade  was  that  of  making  a  popular  "fluid" 
known  as  Bitters.  If  this  simple  fact  is  mentioned  here  it 


148  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

is  because  that  firm  was,  in  a  way,  the  cause  of  the  Nine 
teenth  losing  a  most  gallant  bachelor  Captain.  " Charley" 
Colby,  of  D  Company,  was  " captured"  by  the  lovely  daugh 
ter  of  the  chief  owner  of  those  Bitters  stores;  they  were 
married,  he  subsequently  resigned  from  the  service,  and  they 
lived  happily  together  till  death  took  him  from  earth  to 
heaven.  To  the  present  writer  Captain  Charles  Colby  was 
one  of  the  dearest  and  best  of  officers,  ever  kind  and  thought 
ful  of  his  men,  and  never  afraid  to  go  himself  where  he  asked 
them  to  go. 

The  first  number  of  this  regimental  "organ"  was  dated 
Elizabethtown,  Kentucky,  Wednesday,  October  30,  1861 ; 
it  was  a  two-page  sheet,  and  contained  six  columns  to  the 
page.  The  title  read:  " Zouave  Gazette,  of  the  Nineteenth 
Regiment  Illinois  Volunteers,"  and  between  the  first  two 
words,  which  ran  across  the  top,  was  a  cut  showing  a  globe 
floating  on  water,  with  the  Stars  and  Stripes  spread  to  the 
breeze  above  it.  An  original  copy  of  this  first  number  is 
lying  at  our  elbow  as  we  write.  In  the  upper  left  hand 
corner  of  its  first  page  is  this  announcement:  'The  Zouave 
Gazette,  published  by  the  officers  and  members  of  the  Nine 
teenth,  will  be  issued  as  often  as  circumstances  will  permit. 
Editors:  William  B.  Redfield,  of  the  Chicago  Evening 
Journal  and  Lieutenant  Lyman  Bridges,  Nineteenth  Regi 
ment.  Publisher:  Lieutenant  William  Quinton.  Printers: 
William  J.  Ramage,  Co.  C;  J.  H.  Haynie,  Co.  D;  N.  G. 
Robison,  Co.  E;  Ed  Archibald,  Co.  H;  Charles  H.  Wright, 
Co.  K. "  Soon  afterward  William  H.  Christian  of  Company 
K.  became  a  member  of  the  staff. 

Of  these  nine  men  it  is  known  that  four,  at  least,  are  stil 
living.     Lieutenant ' l  Billy  "  Quinton,  who  served  throughout 
the  war,  was  for  some  time  in  the  Signal  Service  Corps,  with 
Sergeant  Foraker  (years  afterward  a  United  States  Senator) 
as  his  wig-wagging  comrade.     After  the  war  Quinton  was 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  149 

commissioned  into  the  Regular  Army,  where  he  remained 
until  retired,  with  rank  of  Brigadier  General,  on  reaching 
the  age  limit — sixty- two  years.  He  was  in  several  Indian 
engagements,  for  awhile  served  in  the  Philippines,  and 
served  in  the  relief  of  Pekin,  China;  he  was  ever  a  gallant 
officer  and  a  genial  gentleman. 

The  real  name  of  Ed  Archibald  was  Slack.  Like  many 
another  young  fellow  he  gave  a  fictitious  one  in  order  to 
escape  the  vigilance  of  his  parents  and  under  a  nom  de  guerre 
enlisted  in  Company  K.  At  last  accounts  he  was  residing 
in  Cheyenne,  Wyoming,  the  successful  editor  and  proprietor 
of  a  newspaper.  Apropos,  a  rather  curious  incident  may  be 
mentioned  in  connection  with  this  reference  to  Comrade 
Slack.  In  the  winter  of  1874  he  was  married,  in  the  Execu 
tive  Mansion  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  to  the  niece  of  the 
then  Govornor  of  our  State;  and  among  the  guests  on  that 
occasion  was  Comrade  Haynie.  In  1896,  while  the  latter 
was  traveling  in  the  Far  West  as  correspondent  of  the  Boston 
Herald,  he  not  only  renewed  comradeship  with  "  Archibald, " 
but  was  taken  to  his  home  to  dinner,  and  there  had  the  honor 
of  again  meeting  Mrs.  Slack.  Before  leaving  their  hospitable 
house  the  visitor  was  requested  to  do  his  hosts  a  special 
favor.  The  family  Bible  was  brought  forth,  and  in  it  he  had 
the  great  pleasure  of  signing  his  name  as  a  witness  of  a  wed 
ding  ceremony  which  had  occurred  twenty-two  years  pre 
viously,  and  his  signature  was  the  only  one  in  that  book  to 
their  marriage ! 

William  H.  Christian  was  connected  with  the  business 
department  of  the  Chicago  Tribune  for  several  years  after 
the  war.  In  due  course  of  time  he  met  and  lost  his  heart  to 
the  daughter  of  the  General  under  whom  he  served  on  the 
Cairo  Expedition;  they  were  happily  married  and  their's 
has  always  been  a  sweet  and  noble  companionship.  When 
the  Zouave  Gazette  was  revived  in  Chicago  in  the  eighties 


150  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

Christian  became  its  editor.  He  then  removed  to  Missouri 
where  his  wife's  parents  were  residing;  and  thence  went  to 
Stephenville,  Texas,  where  he  is  now  serving  the  Govern 
ment  as  Postmaster. 

Comrade  J.  Henry  Haynie  resides  at  Newton  Center, 
Massachusetts.  In  "Who's  Who  in  America"  (vol.  4),  one 
may  read  this  record:  " Henry  Haynie,  author,  journalist; 
born  in  Winchester,  Illinois,  July  19,  1841;  son  of  Ornsbe 
and  Zerilda  (Rucker)  H.;  married  at  Waltham,  Massa 
chusetts,  December  19,  1893,  to  Mary  Huguenin  Bright." 
(Here  followed  army  service).  " After  the  war  he  entered 
into  journalism  as  reporter  on  a  Chicago  newspaper;  was 
foreign  editor  of  the  New  York  Times  from  the  spring  of 
1875  to  the  autumn  of  1870;  went  then  to  Paris,  France,  as 
special  correspondent  of  several  American  newspapers 
(principally  Boston  Herald,  New  Orleans  Picayune,  San 
Francisco  Chronicle,  and  Chicago  Herald);  resided  there 
until  in  March,  1895,  when  he  returned  to  the  United  States; 
traveling  correspondent  of  the  Boston  Herald  in  America 
for  some  time;  gave  up  journalism  in  1898,  and  has  since 
devoted  his  time  to  literary  work;  was  decorated  with  the 
cross  of  the  Legion  d'Honneur,  France,  in  1892,  and  the  cross 
of  Chevalier  in  the  Royal  Order  of  the  Saviour,  Greece,  in 
1895;  was  President  of  the  Association  of  Foreign  Corres 
pondents  in  Paris  for  several  years;  President  of  the  Play 
goer's  Club,  Boston,  two  terms;  member  of  the  National 
Geographic  Society;  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic; 
Past  Commander  of  Charles  Ward  Post;  delegate-at-large 
from  the  Department  of  Massachusetts,  G.  A.  R.,  to  the 
National  Encampment  in  1904;  was  offered  a  commission 
as  Lieutenant  Colonel  in  the  Egyptian  Army  in  1877  by  the 
Khedive,  but  declined,"  etc.  " Who's  Who  in  America" 
might  also  have  stated  that  Comrade  Haynie  saw  Militia 
service  since  the  Civil  War.  In  1873  the  First  Battalion  of 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  151 

the  First  Illinois  Infantry  State  Militia  was  organized  in 
Chicago.  Gen.  Frank  T.  Sherman,  formerly  Colonel  of  the 
Eighty-eighth  Volunteers,  was  chosen  as  its  Colonel,  and  he 
appointed  Haynie  as  Adjutant,  in  which  position  the  latter 
served  until  the  winter  of  1874,  when  the  resignation  of 
Sherman,  on  account  of  failing  health,  brought  about  a  new 
election  of  field  officers.  General  A.  C.  McClurg,  a  dis 
tinguished  officer  in  the  Union  Army,  and  a  prominent 
publisher  at  the  time,  was  elected  Colonel,  and  Adjutant 
Haynie  was  elected  Major;  he  was,  therefore,  the 
first  Major  of  the  crack  First  Regiment  of  Infantry  Illinois 
State  Militia,  which  rank  and  office  he  held  until  his  resigna 
tion  in  April,  1875,  when  he  removed  from  Chicago  to  New 
York  City. 

A  partial  Roster  of  the  Nineteenth  appeal's  at  the  head 
of  the  second  column  of  that  first  number  of  the  Zouave 
Gazette;  and  in  it  one  may  read  that  Mr.  D.  Haverty  was 
the  Regimental  Sutler,  that  John  Lane  was  the  leader  of  the 
Band,  and  that  "Nat"  Sherman  was  Drum  Major.  It 
would  seem,  however,  that  the  commander  of  Company  G 
was  absent  on  furlough  at  the  time,  as  there  is  a  small  para 
graph  which  gravely  announces  that  "Last  week  Captain 
C.  D.  C.  Williams  shot  on  the  prairies  near  Chicago,  forty- 
seven  snipe  and  plover."  But  it  also  states  that  "the 
mules  attached  to  a  dray  on  which  was  the  Quartermaster's 
safe,  ran  away  and  came  rushing  down  the  hill  from  camp  at 
a  furious  rate,  spilling  out  the  safe  in  an  adjacent  grave 
yard."  The  editor  very  properly  adds:  "A  queer  place 
for  the  deposit  of  Uncle  Sam's  funds."  In  those  days 
Comrade  Henry  Clay  Daggy  of  D  Company,  who  fell  at 
Stone  River,  was  Regimental  Postmaster.  Mails  arrived  at 
11  A.  M.  and  closed  at  2  P.  M.  The  Surgeon's  report 
showed  that  the  Regiment  was  more  exempt  from  sickness 
than  at  any  time  since  it  had  been  in  service.  There  are 


152  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

numerous  General  and  Special  Orders  printed  in  this  num 
ber;  business  must  have  been  good,  for  several  columns 
are  rilled  with  advertisements ;  the  paper  publishes  an  original 
poem,  entitled  "Camp  Life,  with  Variations."  and,  as  per 
orders,  we  had  in  those  piping  times  of  war,  to  answer  roll 
call  at  5.45  A.  M.,  indulge  in  company  drill  two  hours  and  a 
half  every  afternoon,  have  battalion  drill  at  2  o'clock,  go  on 
dress-parade  at  5;  and  taps  were  sounded  at  9.30  P.  M.— 
what !  Subsequent  numbers  contained  carefully  written  and 
signed  articles  by  Colonel  Turchin  on  regimental  bands, 
out-post  duties,  bugle  signals,  etc.,  besides  which  he  pre 
pared  a  " Brigade  Drill,"  in  pamphlet  form,  and  which  was 
the  first  book  of  that  sort  since  the  old  " Scott's  Tactics." 

Twenty-one  years  after  the  muster  out  of  the  Nineteenth 
the  Zouave  Gazette  was  resurrected,  so  to  speak,  and  since 
then, at  long  intervals,  several  numbers  of  the  new  paper  have 
been  published  at  Chicago.  It  is  from  these  issues  that 
many  details  and  incidents  included  in  this  volume  have 
been  taken.  Its  first  editor  after  the  war  was  " Billy" 
Christian;  its  second  was  the  late  "Tom"  Beatty,  a  Lieu 
tenant  in  Company  A,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  one  of  the 
chief  clerks  in  the  Chicago  Postoffice,  where  he  served  during 
several  administrations.  Apropos  of  postoffices,  Comrade 
"Johnnie"  Vreeland,  formerly  of  Company  A,  is  the  Post 
master  at  Englewood,  Illinois;  Christian  holds  a  similar 
position  in  Texas;  and  Captain  William  A.  Calhoun,  of 
Company  D,  was  the  oldest — both  in  years  and  length  of 
service — letter  carrier  of  the  Chicago  Postoffice  at  the  time 
of  his  death.  For  more  than  thirty-five  years  he  was  known 
as  Mail  Carrier  No.  1,  but  he  gave  up  his  sack  three  years 
prior  to  his  passing  away. 

In  the  January  31,  1894,  number,  Comrade  H.  A.  Downs 
gives  the  Editor  of  the  Zouave  Gazette  an  entertaining 


Lieut.  Thomas  M.  Beatty,  Co.  A. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  153 

account  of  how  he  made  quite  a  mess  of  it  cooking  some 
rice  for  his  squad,  "once  upon  a  time." 

Toward  the  end  of  May,  1861,  Downs  and  several  of  his 
fellow  employees  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railway  imbued 
with  the  spirit  of  patriotism  then  prevailing,  marched  down 
to  the  old  courthouse  in  Chicago  and  enlisted  (or  believed 
they  had)  in  Captain  C.  D.  C.  William's  Company  of  Sap 
pers  and  Miners.  He  writes :  ' l  After  a  few  days  of  waiting, 
just  how  many  I  do  not  remember,  we  were  told  that  Uncle 
Sam  could  not  accept  a  company  of  Sappers  and  Miners  as 
such,  or  separate  from  a  regiment,  but  that  if  we  would  join 
some  regiment  then  organizing  we  might  be  detailed  on  extra 
duty,  which,  perhaps,  might  satisfy  our  ambition.  This 
information  dampened  the  ardor  of  the  whole  crowd  and 
resulted  in  the  withdrawal  of  at  least  one-half,  while  those 
of  us  who  had  enlisted  for  the  war  began  to  look  around  for 
some  organization  to  join.  The  Nineteenth  Illinois  had 
just  gone  into  camp  at  Cottage  Grove,  and  as  a  member  of 
our  company  by  the  name  of  Sanders  and  myself  had  re 
peatedly  witnessed  the  drilling  of  the  Ellsworth  Zouaves  in 
the  old  Garret  t  Block,  corner  of  Randolph  and  State,  we 
decided  that  we  must  all  join  the  Nineteenth  because  they 
knew  all  about  soldiering  and,  of  course,  would  stand  a 
better  show  in  the  future.  Aside  from  Sanders  and  myself, 
I  venture  the  assertion  that  very  few  knew  how  near  we  were 
to  getting  into  the  Mulligan  Brigade,  but  into  the  Nineteenth 
we  went  and  were  assigned  to  Company  G.  We  were  given 
tents  and  camp  equipage,  our  quarters  were  pointed  out  to 
us,  and  we  proceeded  to  put  up  our  tents. 

"As  the  regiment  was  not  full  there  were  a  number  of 
recruiting  stations  down  town,  ours  being  opposite  to  the 
old  postoffice  on  Dearborn  street,  and  was  in  charge  of 
Lyman  Bridges.  We  had  not  perfected  our  organization, 
but  it  was  understood  that  Williams  was  to  be  Captain  and 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

Bridges  First  Lieutenant.  The  strife  was  over  the  Second 
Lieutenant,  and  it  was  decided  to  leave  that  open  as  an 
added  inducement  for  bringing  in  recruits.  I  may  be  mis 
taken,  but  I  think  "Billy"  Bishop  was  finally  elected  our  first 
Second  Lieutenant.  We  had  divided  the  members  of  our 
company  into  squads  of  ten  men  each,  each  member  taking 
his  turn  at  cooking,  and  while  I  have  no  distinct  recollection 
of  just  what  our  rations  consisted,  I  do  know  that  one  of 
them  was  rice.  I  know  we  had  plenty  of  that  and  that  I 
knew  all  about  cooking  it.  I  proposed  to  put  my  knowledge 
into  practice  the  first  time  it  came  my  turn  to  cook,  which 
was  on  a  Sunday.  Shortly  before  that  eventful  day  I  was 
out  home  and  mentioned  the  fact  that  I  was  to  be  cook  the 
next  Sunday,  that  we  were  going  to  have  rice,  and  as  the 
cows  pastured  west  of  camp  on  the  prairie  did  not  give  milk 
enough  to  go  around  I  asked  mother  if  she  could  not  spare 
a  pan  or  so;  this  was  readily  promised  and  brought  to  me 
Sunday  morning.  I  was  kindly  told  to  wash  the  rice  and 
pick  out  all  the  specks,  old  nails,  etc.,  but  not  one  word  about 
the  quantity  I  was  to  cook,  and  the  last  word  of  caution  was 
'be  sure  and  keep  your  kettle  covered.'  I  was  to  cook 
enough  for  ten  men.  I  had  the  rations  of  some  forty-odd, 
and  undertook  to  cook  it,  in  fact  did  so.  Rice  swells;  if 
you  don't  know  it  ask  your  wife.  I  know  now  that  it  does, 
but  I  didn't  that  Sunday,  and  I  was  to  keep  the  kettle 
covered.  I  put  my  camp  kettle  of  water  on  the  fire;  got  it 
hot  a,nd  put  in  the  rice;  water  and  rice  began  to  boil,  cover 
on  kettle  began  to  raise,  tried  to  stop  it,  couldn't,  put  stone 
on  top — no  good,  so  I  let  her  go;  ground  all  covered  and 
looked  as  if  it  had  been  snowing;  boys  standing  around 
making  sarcastic  remarks,  rendering  me  very  uncomfortable, 
I  assure  you,  but  we  had  rice  and  molasses  for  a  week." 

Curious   to   note,   the  very  next  issue   of  the   Zouave 
Gazette  (January  1,  1896),  gives  the  story  of  how  Company 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  155 

G  came  to  be  transformed  into  a  battery.  In  that  number 
Comrade  L.  A.  White,  a  member  of  G  from  the  first,  wrote 
as  follows: 

11  During  the  Autumn  of  1862  a  detail  was  made  of 
Company  G,  while  the  Regiment  was  stationed  at  Nashville, 
directing  them  to  take  in  charge  four  pieces  of  artillery  and 
proceed  to  Gallatin,  Tennessee,  located  a  few  miles  north  of 
the  capital,  for  the  purpose  of  guarding  from  the  John  Mor 
gan  raiders,  the  Louisville  and  Nashville  Railroad  and  a  large 
lot  of  army  supplies  stored  there.  They  found  a  rudely 
constructed  fortification  which  they  proceeded  at  once  to 
improve  and  put  in  shape  for  protection  in  case  of  an  attack. 
With  true  Yankee  pluck,  officers  and  men  set  about  becoming 
familiar  with  handling,  loading,  and  firing  artillery,  and 
acquiring  a  general  knowledge  of  artillery  tactics.  What 
was  taken  hold  of  from  necessity,  that  they  might  keep  at 
bay  an  attacking  force,  soon  came  to  be  entered  upon  with 
zest,  and  with  the  result  that  the  brief  period  spent  at  that 
post  awakened  in  all  great  interest  in  artillery,  and  a  general 
desire  that  the  remaining  term  of  service  might  be  spent  in  pull 
ing  the  lanyard  rather  than  the  trigger.  Fully  appreciating 
his  company's  desire  in  this  regard,  Captain  Bridges,  with 
his  characteristic  boldness  and  push,  set  plans  in  operation 
which  resulted  in  an  order  being  issued  by  the  Secretary  of 
War,  on  January  14,  1863,  detaching  Company  G  from  the 
Nineteenth  and  authorizing  the  Governor  of  Illinois  to 
reorganize  it  as  a  battery  of  light  artillery — six  guns — and 
that  the  additional  commissioned  and  non-commissioned 
officers  could  be  added  when  the  company  should  be  fully 
recruited.  For  this  purpose  a  recruiting  party  was  des 
patched  to  Chicago.  The  forebodings  of  evil  to  the  Union 
cause,  and  the  treacherous  copperhead  sentiment  which 
prevailed  to  so  threatening  an  extent  in  Chicago  in  the  early 
part  of  1863,  rendered  recruiting  more  difficult  than  at  any 


156  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

other  time  during  the  war.  Still  it  was  persisted  in,  until  on 
the  first  of  July  the  maximum  number  for  an  artillery  com 
pany  had  been  secured.  The  required  commissioned  and 
non-commissioned  officers  were  then  added,  and  the  com 
pany  was  fully  equipped  under  the  name  of  Bridges'  Bat 
tery,  Illinois  Light  Artillery." 

Captain  Bridges  later  was  promoted  Major  and  Cap 
tain  Lyman  White,  a  gallant  officer,  succeeded  him  in  com 
mand  of  the  Battery. 

Comrade  D.  B.  Morehouse — a  Lieutenant  in  Company  I 
toward  the  end  of  our  term  of  service;  he  is  now  in  the 
United  States  Collector's  office  at  Davenport,  Iowa,  and 
may  he  long  live  to  draw  his  pay  from  Uncle  Sam! — con 
tributed  some  of  his  early  experiences  of  the  war  to  the 
Zouave  Gazette.  After  telling  of  how  he,  a  lonely  lad  in 
Galena,  Illinois  (that  would  be  the  city  where  Grant  was 
clerk  in  a  tanner's  store;  also  the  residence  of  Major  General 
A.  L.  Chetlain,  another  fine  soldier  from  our  State),  con 
vinced  the  Mustering  officer  that,  though  small  enough  to 
be  at  the  extreme  left  of  the  "pony  squad,"  yet  was  big. 
enough  to  carry  a  musket,  and  writing  of  when  he  was  a 
Corporal,  soon  after  the  Regiment  had  crossed  over  to 
Missouri,  he  says: 

11  Toward  evening  I  was  given  a  detail  of  a  dozen  or 
fifteen  men  and  told  to  go  out  a  certain  road  until  I  came  to 
bridge,  and  there  post  my  pickets.  My  experience  on  that 
occasion,  I  think  will  show  how  green  we  all  were — those 
who  had  not  been  to  'Big  Muddy'  I  mean.  On  reaching  the 
bridge  I  halted,  and  told  my  squad  off  into  three  reliefs,  as  I 
had  seen  done  at  Camp  Douglas,  had  them  fix  bayonets. 
How  I  have  laughed  since,  when  I  think  with  what  awkward 
ness  it  was  done.  We  had  only  owned  those  old  repaired 
Harper's  Ferry  muskets  but  a  little  while,  and  were  not  as 
expert  as  we  afterward  became. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  157 

"I  then  took  the  first  relief  out  into  the  swamp  and 
posted  them  like  a  camp  guard,  only  with  shorter  beats. 
The  reserve  in  the  meantime  stacked  their  arms,  or  rather 
piled  them  up,  under  the  orders  and  counter  order  of  Nos.  1 
and  2  front  rank,  with  a  few  quiet  remarks  thrown  in  by  the 
rear  rank  men.  Well,  then  I  was  corporal  of  the  guard, 
sergeant  of  the  guard,  officer  of  the  guard;  and  for  all  that  I 
knew — grand  rounds,  and  not  a  round  of  ammunition  in  the 
whole  outfit.  Rather  a  queer  position  for  a  school  boy  but 
little  over  sixteen  years  to  be  placed  in.  Things  moved 
along  rather  smoothly  until  dark  and  it  was  growing  very 
dark  in  those  woods,  as  a  storm  seemed  to  be  coming  up. 
Soon  my  imagination  began  to  get  in  its  work.  I  thought  I 
saw  those  fellows  pacing  their  lonely  beats,  and  in  the  darkness 
getting  on  each  others  territory,  when  in  the  excitement  of 
their  situation,  they  would  forget  the  challenge,  and  begin 
to  punch  each  other  with  their  bayonets.  Happily  they 
couldn't  shoot.  In  that  way  some  one  might  get  hurt,  be 
killed,  and  I  would  be  looked  upon  as  a  murderer  by  the 
mothers,  wives  and  sweethearts  of  those  fellows.  My  flesh 
began  to  crawl,  and  away  I  started  for  the  line,  disobeying 
my  own  orders  as  to  silence,  I  began  to  whistle  that  they 
might  know  I  was  coming,  and  not  first  run  me  through  and 
cry  'Halt!  'afterward.  On  reaching  them  I  told  each  man  to 
remain  at  one  end  of  his  beat,  and  keep  a  sharp  lookout  for 
the  enemy,  whom  we  might  expect  to  spring  from  behind  a 
tree  or  trees  at  any  moment  (I  had  read  Indian  stories 
before  the  war).  Everything  fixed  to  my  satisfaction,  I 
returned  to  the  reserve  and  to  thinking — thinking  as  many 
of  you — yes,  as  all  of  you  have  when  on  the  picket  post,  of 
my  mother  who  is  in  heaven,  of  home  and  friends,  and  the 
girls  I  had  left  behind  me,  and  wondered  what  they  would 
say  if  they  saw  me  at  that  moment. 


158  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

"  I  nearly  jumped  out  of  my  shoes  as  some  one  exclaimed, 
1  What's  that!'  and  away  down  the  road  in  the  direction  of 
the  camp,  we  saw  a  glimmer  of  a  light  that  seemed  to  grow 
to  the  size  of  a  locomotive's  headlight.  Presently  we 
noticed  a  swinging  motion  and  saw  that  it  was  a  lantern 
carried  by  one  of  the  men,  followed,  I  think  by  two  others. 
They  were  bringing  up  the  ammunition,  three  rounds  to  the 
man.  I  venture  to  say  it  was  the  first  and  only  lantern  ever 
seen  on  picket,  but  in  our  greenness  we  thought  it  all  right, 
and  wondered  why  Uncle  Sam  could  not  furnish  them  to  be 
used  in  posting  pickets.  This  happened  about  one  or  two 
o'clock  in  the  morning. 

"When  at  last  daylight  came  we  were  glad  to  see  it,  and 
from  eight  to  nine  o'clock  kept  our  eyes  to  the  rear,  watching 
for  the  new  guard,  which  didn't  come,  and  so  far  as  I  knew 
never  got  there,  for  at  nine  o'clock  I  fell  in  my  detail  and 
struck  out  for  camp,  which  I  found  all  excitement,  and  on 
inquiry  was  told  that  twenty-five  volunteers  were  wanted 
to  go  upon  some  secret  expedition,  and  I,  after  considerable 
talking  got  Captain  Howard's  consent,  and  became  one 
of  them.  The  expedition  ended  at  a  railroad  bridge,  where 
we  went  into  camp,  I  think,  under  Captain  Raff  en.  One 
little  incident  happened  then  I  shall  never  forget,  and  as  I 
think  of  it  have  to  smile.  It  was  the  custom  to  send  three 
or  four  men  to  the  opposite  end  of  the  bridge,  they  to  relieve 
each  other.  The  bridge  being  without  a  floor  was  unsafe 
to  cross  after  dark.  Just  before  daylight,  when  all  was 
hazy  and  pretty  dark  in  those  low  lands,  one  of  the  boys 
shook  me  and  says: — Those  fellows  in  camp  are  sleeping  too 
sweetly.  I  am  going  to  get  them  up  for  breakfast.'  I  in 
quired  as  to  how  he  was  going  to  do  it.  He  said,  'By 
firing  this  old  blunderbuss.'  After  some  little  discussion  I 
agreed  it  would  be  fun  and  go  ahead,  as  he  said  no  one  but 
us  two  would  know  anything  about  it,  and  that  we  would 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  159 

not  be  fools  to  tell.  With  that  he  blazed  away,  and  in  an 
instant  every  one  was  out  with  their  arms,  and  but 
little  clothing,  and  came  working  their  way  as  best  they 
could  over  the  bridge  to  see  what  the  matter  was.  I  had 
hard  work  to  keep  my  partner  from  firing  again,  to — as  he 
remarked— 'Speed  them  up  a  little.'  I  think  the  captain 
was  in  the  lead.  Before  reaching  us  he  inquired  as  to  what 
was  up.  My  partner  described  how  he  had  seen  some  one 
sneaking  through  the  woods  alongside  the  track.  Without 
stopping  to  deploy  skirmishers  they  struck  for  the  woods, 
and  in  searching  they  run  across  each  others  tracks,  so  gave 
us  credit  for  great  vigilance." 

While  we  were  at  Elizabethtown,  Kentucky,  the  new 
Department  Commander,  Major  General  Don  Carlos  Buell, 
went  about  visiting  as  many  of  his  somewhat  scattered 
forces  as  possible,  and  thus  he  happened  to  make  acquaint 
ance  with  the  Nineteenth  Illinois.  He  was  much  impressed 
and,  contrary  to  long  established  forms,  preferred  to  see  us 
in  battalion  drill  rather  than  to  have  the  companies  march 
past  on  review,  after  the  old  way  of  doing  things.  That  day 
Ours  went  through  the  various  evolution  of  battalion  drill 
with  a  skill  and  regularity  not  to  be  surpassed  and  seldom 
equalled.  Buell  said  to  Turchin  that  afternoon,  "I  have 
never  seen  a  better  drilled  regiment  than  your's."  He 
soon  assigned  our  Colonel  to  command  the  Eighth  Brigade 
of  the  Third  Division,  Army  of  the  Ohio;  it  consisted  of  the 
Nineteenth  and  Twenty-fourth  Illinois,  Eighteenth  Ohio, 
and  Thirty-seventh  Indiana  Infantry  regiments,  and  the 
Division  Commander  was  General  O.  M.  Mitchel.  The 
Eighth  Brigade,  with  the  Seventh  and  Ninth,  went  into 
camp  at  Bacon  Creek  soon  afterward,  and  we  remained  there 
until  the  tenth  of  February,  1862. 

It  was  just  after  we  left  Elizabethtown  that  we  first 
heard  of  a  soldier  who,  in  the  near  future,. was  to  become 


160  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

our  own  beloved  and  never  to  be  forgotten  Commander. 
George  Henry  Thomas  is  one  of  the  most  attractive  military 
characters  in  American  history  since  Geroge  Washington. 
Born  and  reared  in  Virginia,  educated  at  West  Point,  serving 
with  distinction  in  the  Mexican  War,  Senior  Major  in  the 
Regular  Cavalry  regiment  of  which  Robert  E.  Lee  was 
Colonel  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion,  General 
Thomas  let  his  love  for  the  Union  prevail  over  his  attach 
ment  for  his  native  State,  and  remained  loyal  to  that  Govern 
ment  which  he  had  sworn  to  protect  with  each  promotion  he 
ever  gained.  We  first  heard  of  his  heroic  size  and  knightly 
splendor  and  integrity,  when  he  destroyed  the  Confederate 
force  in  the  Battle  of  Mill  Spring,  Kentucky,  the  nineteenth 
of  January,  1862,  and  when  Zollicoffer,  the  rebel  commander, 
was  killed.  And  Thomas,  of  whom  we  shall  have  much  more 
to  say  before  this  work  is  completed,  grew  in  fame  and  in 
achievement  until  at  Nashville,  in  the  concluding  period  of 
the  war,  he  annihilated  a  much  greater  army  than  that  of 
ZollicofTer  on  the  field  of  battle  in  midwinter! 

It  was  in  December,  1861,  that  the  Nineteenth  went 
from  Elizabethtown  to  Camp  John  Quincy  Adams,  at 
Bacon  Creek,  Kentucky.  The  weather  was  rainy  and 
severe,  it  was  our  first  winter  under  canvas,  and  many  were 
taken  ill.  February  10,  1862,  Buell's  army  commenced  to 
move  Southward,  Mitchel's  Division  in  advance,  and  the 
Nineteenth  Illinois  leading.  The  high  railroad  bridge 
across  Green  River  at  Munfordville  had  no  railing  or  pro 
tection  on  the  sides,  but  it  was  safely  passed  over  with  the 
teams  by  moonlight,  and  the  scene  was  extremely  picturesque 
to  all  of  us  in  the  marching  column.  " The  country  through 
which  we  marched  was  cavernous,  and  the  surface  had  many 
bowl-like  depressions  in  which  was,  generally,  considerable 
water.  On  their  retreat  the  Confederates  drove  their  dis 
abled  and  broken-down  horses  and  mules  into  these  ponds 


Gen.  George  H.  Thomas. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  161 

and  shot  them.  But,  as  springs  and  streams  were  scarce 
in  that  region,  we  had  no  choice  except  to  use  the  water 
from  the  befouled  ponds."*  Mitchel's  Division  consisted 
of  the  Eighth,  Ninth,  and  Seventeenth  Brigades;  the  first 
was  commanded  by  Colonel  Turchin,  and  it  included  the 
Nineteenth  and  Twenty-fourth  Illinois,  Thirty-seventh 
Indiana,  and  Eighteenth  Ohio  regiments.  Experience  gave 
something  of  a  veteran  character  to  this  Brigade  and  war 
ranted  its  assignment  to  the  van  in  the  movement  on 
Bowling  Green.  The  Nineteenth  led  the  brigade,  and  we 
shall  never  forget  that  hurried  march  and  what  we  accom 
plished.  At  last,  so  it  seemed  to  us  then,  we  were  about  to 
receive  our  baptism  in  battle,  and  the  hope  of  expectation, 
the  pride  of  believing  in  ourselves  as  a  fighting  regiment, 
and  the  determination  to  give  support  not  only  to  our 
brigade  but  to  our  Division  Commander,  placed  us  all  on 
the  keen  edge  of  anticipation,  so  that  the  miles  were  reeled 
off  as  though  they  were  merely  furlongs. 

On  February  13,  a  division  was  sent  to  reinforce  Grant 
at  Fort  Donelson,  while  Mitchel's  Division  continued  with 
great  celerity  toward  Bowling  Green  to  deter  the  enemy  from 
sending  troops  to  that  beleaguered  point.  Our  arrival  on  the 
North  bank  of  Barron  River,  opposite  Bowling  Green,  the 
day  following  was  announced  by  the  roar  of  Edgarton's 
battery,  whose  shells  bursting  in  the  city  spread  terror 
among  the  inhabitants  and  hurried  the  retreat  of  the  rear 
guard  of  Albert  Sidney  Johnston's  army  from  that  place. 
During  the  night  previous  the  enemy  burned  both  bridges- 
pike  and  railroad — and  before  leaving  the  town  set  fire  to 
public  buildings,  railway  cars,  and  other  property.  The 
swollen  stream,  now  without  bridges,  prevented  our  im 
mediate  advance  to  arrest  the  conflagration.  We  could 
see  troops  loading  stores  on  trains,  but  a  well-aimed  shell 

*Chaplain  Van  Horn's  "History  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland." 


162  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

carried  dismay  to  the  busy  group  in  Gray  by  knocking  a 
locomotive  to  pieces.  Another  shot  or  two  drove  all  the 
"Johnnies"  from  that  part  of  our  immediate  front;  still  we 
could  not  get  at  them. 

Then  Colonel  Turchin  asked  permission  to  march  his 
brigade  down  the  river  and  cross  it  on  a  big  flat-bottom 
boat,  or  ferry,  which  had  been  discovered  by  scouts  near  an 
old  flour  mill.  General  Mitchel  gave  his  consent  to  this 
movement,  and  during  the  night  the  Big  Barren  was  over 
come,  the  Nineteenth  being  the  first  regiment  to  enter  the 
Confederate  stronghold,  as  we  did  about  five  o'clock  in 
the  morning.  That  day  we  found  an  enormous  amount  of 
stores  there,  and  among  these  were  some  fifty  or  sixty  bar 
rels  of  fine  whiskey  in  one  single  shed,  that  a  few  eager  com 
rades  discovered.  The  more  timid  of  these  suggested  that 
the  liquor  might  be  poisoned,  but  several  darkies  who  had 
hastily  gathered  round  scouted  this  idea.  Asked  if  they 
were  willing  to  prove  their  belief  by  drinking  some  of  the 
whiskey,  they  grinningly  consented,  and  as  no  " casualties" 
were  noticed,  the  find  was  duly  confiscated  and  another 
credit  went  to  the  account  of  the  Nineteenth  Illinois.* 

After  a  delay  at  Bowling  Green  of  a  week  or  so,  during 
which  time  we  heard  of  Grant's  great  victory  at  Fort  Donel- 
son,  Mitchel's  Division  resumed  its  march  toward  Nashville, 
distant  about  seventy  miles.  Marching  by  Franklin, 
Mitchellsville,  and  Tyree  Springs,  the  division  reached 
Edgeville,  opposite  Nashville,  in  the  evening  of  the  twenty- 
fourth  of  February,  and  the  following  morning  the  Mayor, 
accompanied  by  a  committee  of  citizens,  formally  sur 
rendered  the  Capital  of  Tennessee  while  Forrest's  Cavalry 
were  still  in  the  outskirts  of  that  place.  General  Johnston 
had  abandoned  the  city  as  early  as  the  sixteenth,  and 

*Yes,  very  likely,  some  of  those  boys  may  have  retained  enough  of  "them  spirits" 
to  fill  their  canteens. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  163 

concentrated  his  forces  at  Murfreesboro,  thirty  miles  or  so 
distant,  leaving  Forrest  to  remove  or  destroy  the  guns  and 
stores,  of  which  there  was  an  immense  quantity,  when  the 
time  came. 

General  Buell  moved  at  once  with  most  of  his  army  to 
the  relief  of  General  Grant  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  and  left 
Mitchel  with  his  Division  to  hold  Nashville.  We  remained 
there  till  March  18,  1862,  when  the  division  resumed  its 
march  Southward,  encamping  the  first  night  at  Lavergne, 
fifteen  miles  from  Nashville.  We  were  now  in  ua  land 
of  cotton/'  although  the  "cinnamon  seeds"  were  not  notice 
able,  yet  " colored  folks"  were  plentiful.  General  Keifer, 
ex-Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  says  in  his  book, 
" Slavery  and  Four  Years  of  War":  "As  our  column  ad 
vanced,  regardless  of  >sex  and  in  families,  the  darkies  aban 
doned  the  fields  and  their  homes,  turning  their  backs  on 
master  and  mistress,  many  bearing  their  bedding,  clothing, 
and  other  effects  on  their  heads  and  backs,  and  came  to  the 
roadsides,  shouting  and  singing  a  medley  of  songs  of  freedom 
and  religion,  confidently  expecting  to  follow  the  army  to 
immediate  liberty.  Their  numbers  were  so  great,  we 
marched  for  a  good  part  of  a  day  between  almost  con 
tinuous  lines  of  them.  They  shouted  'Glory,  glory!'  on 
seeing  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  as  though  it  had  been  a  banner 
of  protection  instead  of  the  emblem  of  a  power  which 
hitherto  had  kept  them  and  their  ancestors  in  bondage." 
But  as  a  rule,  we  were  not  thus  troubled  on  our  marchings 
down  South.  Generally  speaking,  the  darkies  were  faith 
ful  to  those  with  whom  they  had  "  grow'd  up, "  and  remained 
at  home. 

We  reached  Murfreesboro  the  twentieth  of  March  with 
out  any  fighting,  the  small  Confederate  force  retiring  and 
destroying  bridges  as  we  advanced.  Here  we  were  occupied, 
when  not  drilling,  at  bridge  building — 1,200  feet  were 


164  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

replaced  in  ten  days — with  occasional  skirmishing  round, 
the  enemy  still  being  thereabouts;  and  then  Mitchel  moved 
forward,  this  time  to  Shelby ville,  where  he  established  a 
depot  of  supplies.  While  at  Shelby  ville  an  expedition  was 
organized  and  a  bold  and  rapid  advance  was  made  on  Hunts- 
ville,  Alabama,  to  take  possession  of  the  Memphis  and 
Charleston  Railroad  between  Decatur  and  Bridgeport, 
with  a  view  to  thoroughly  breaking  the  direct  communica 
tions  of  the  Confederates  at  Corinth  with  the  East  and 
Southeast,  whilst  helping  the  operations  of  the  Union  forces 
against  Corinth.  Turchin's  Brigade,  with  Captain  Simon- 
son's  Indiana  Battery,  preceded  by  a  troop  or  two  of  the 
Fourth  Ohio  Cavalry,  moved  the  seventh  of  April  to  Fayette- 
ville,  General  Mitchel  accompanying  us.  Just  before  reach 
ing  that  town  two  citizens  riding  in  a  buggy  were  come  upon, 
and  they  informed  the  General  that  on  the  previous  day  the 
Union  army  had  been  defeated  at  Shiloh,  and  driven  into  the 
Tennessee  River.  Mitchel  at  once  sent  a  mounted  Orderly 
with  a  dispatch  to  General  Buell,  and  next  morning,  while 
at  Fay ette ville,  he  received  an  answer  that  Grant's  forces 
had  been  defeated  on  the  sixth  of  April,  but  on  the  seventh 
the  combined  armies  of  Buell  and  Grant,  renewing  the 
attack  on  the  Confederates,  had  driven  them  back  to  Corinth. 
The  Turchin  movement  thereupon  continued,  and  we 
camped  that  night  within  six  or  seven  miles  of  Hunts  ville. 
Although  so  late  in  the  year,  that  night  before  the  sud 
den  rush  on  Huntsville  was  rather  cold  as  we  bivouacked  on 
the  sloping  side  of  a  low  hill,  the  long  line  of  muskets  stacked 
at  our  feet  when  we  "went  to  bed"  after  a  hastily  prepared 
supper.  But  all  of  Turchin's  boys  did  not  pass  that  night 
in  " Nature's  sweet  restorer."  Certain  fellows  in  one  of 
the  companies  of  the  Nineteenth  had  disobeyed  orders  by 
11  jerking"  a  wandering  "Secesh"  goose,  and  while  the 
Regiment  en  masse  was  soundly  slumbering  these  young 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  165 

rascals  cooked  their  prey,  the  company  Cook  having  kindly 
consented  to  the  use  of  his  largest  kettle,  stipulating,  how 
ever,  that  it  should  be  well  scrubbed  before  the  hour  for 
breakfast  arrived,  as  it  would  be  needed  in  the  preparation 
of  coffee.  This  "night  squad"  numbered  six  privates 
whose  names  are  not  to  be  made  known  to  history.  Three 
of  them  were  to  secure  the  fuel,  the  others  were  to  alternate 
in  keeping  watch  and  heat  over  the  "bird, "  and  thereby 
hangs  the  almost  tragic  interest  of  this  army  incident.  The 
longer  that  goose  was  boiled  the  more  it  seemed  " undone;" 
and  when  Cook  came  for  his  kettle  it  was  still  non  eatabus, 
so  far  as  could  be  made  out  by  the  tasters.  Then  came  the 
order  to  march  at  once,  and  in  the  hurry  of  forward  move 
ment  the  goose  was  forgotten! 

That  morning  Turchin's  Brigade,  the  Nineteenth  in  the 
lead,  made  a  quick  jump  for  Huntsville,  and  most  of  the  way 
we  were  on  the  double-quick.  The  result  was  the  boys  of 
the  Fourth  Ohio  Cavalry  had  to  ride  some  to  prevent  our 
over-running  them;  and  great  was  the  prize  we  gained  at 
that  place.  Completely  surprising  the  citizens  of  the  town, 
we  captured  one  hundred  and  seventy  prisoners  of  war, 
fifteen  locomotives,  one  hundred  and  fifty  passenger  and 
freight  cars,  and  other  property  of  great  value.  There  was 
a  train  standing  ready  to  move  out  when  we  came  to  the  rail 
road  track;  it  had  been  abandoned  hastily  by  its  regular 
crew,  however.  Volunteers  were  called  for,  and  from  the 
ranks  sprang  engineer,  fireman  and  brakesmen.  Companies 
from  the  Nineteenth  and  Twenty-fourth  Illinois  were 
ordered  to  board  the  cars,  and  in  a  very  few  minutes  that 
train  was  rushing  toward  Decatur,  with  a  cannon  mounted 
on  a  flat-car  in  front  of  the  locomotive.  Thus  several 
bridges  were  saved  from  destruction. 

The  brigades  under  Colonel  Sill  and  Lytle,  with  Loomis's 
and  Edgarton's  batteries,  were  swift  in  following  us  into 


100  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

Huntsville,  and  next  day  General  Mitchel  sent  Colonel  Sill 
eastward  to  capture  Stevenson,  the  junction  of  the  Memphis 
and  Charleston  and  the  Nashville  and  Chattanooga  Rail 
roads,  while  Turchin's  Brigade  was  hurrying  to  seize  Decatur 
and  Tuscumbia,  near  which  last  we  had  a  sharp  action  with 
the  enemy,  coming  off  victorious.  Both  expeditions  were 
successful,  and  thus,  within  a  few  days,  one  hundred  and 
twenty  miles  of  important  railroads  fell  into  our  keeping. 
To  hold  what  was  thus  gained,  detachments  of  troops  were 
posted  at  the  more  important  points,  and  the  whole  com 
mand  was  kept  in  readiness  to  move  at  any  moment  to  any 
place  on  the  line  which  the  Confederates  might  threaten. 
Early  in  May  arose  what  General  Keifer,  in  his  book,* 
calls  "one  of  the  most  exceptional  incidents  of  the  war," 
so  far  as  our  Regiment  was  concerned.  Colonel  Turchin 
had  left  the  Eighteenth  Ohio  to  occupy  Athens,  Alabama, 
and  hardly  was  that  regiment  alone  than  it  was  pounced 
upon  by  a  Confederate  force  commanded  by  Colonel  J.  S. 
Scott  and  treated  most  unfairly.  It  has  always  been  claimed 
that  the  rebels  fired  on  Stanley's  men  from  houses  in  which 
they  were  harbored,  and  that  the  citizens  aided  in  shooting 
down  Union  soldiers.  The  War  Records  (volume  X,  Part 
1,  page  878)  states  that  Scott,  in  his  report  to  Beauregard, 
dated  the  day  of  the  fight,  says  "the  boys  took  few  prisoners, 
their  shots  proving  singularly  fatal."  Hearing  of  this  out 
rage,  Colonel  Turchin  hastened  to  the  assistance  of  the 
Eighteenth  with  the  Nineteenth  and  Twenty-fourth  Illinois, 
Edgarton's  battery,  and  a  part  of  the  Fourth  Ohio  Cavalry. 
We  met  the  Eighteenth  on  the  road  in  swift  retreat;  but  on 
our  arrival  it  turned  and  aided  in  driving  Scott's  unworthy 
victors  swiftly  from  the  scene.  In  the  midst  of  the  con 
fusion  that  accompanied  and  followed  this  affair  some 
unsoldierly  things  were  done  by  men  of  the  brigade,  and  for 

*" Slavery  and  Four  Years  of  War."  (G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons,  New  York.) 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  167 

this  General  Mitchel,  having  heard  that  Athens  had  been 
" sacked"  by  his  troops,  repaired  in  person  to  the  town, 
addressed  the  citizens,  and  had  them  organize  a  special 
committee  to  hear  and  report  on  all  complaints  against  his 
soldiers.  Mitchel  also  ordered  our  Brigade  Commander 
to  interrogate  every  officer  and  man  under  him  on  that  move. 
The  Athens  committee  subsequently  reported,  but  no  charge 
was  made  against  any  one  of  the  Nineteenth  by  name ;  nor 
was  a  single  man,  whether  of  rank  or  file,  implicated  in 
wrongdoing  by  this  inquisitive  process. 

General  Mitchel  was  satisfied,  but  not  so  with  General 
Buell,  the  Commander  of  our  army.  Urged  on  by  field 
officers  who  were  probably  jealous  of  the  " Russian,"  Buell 
caused  Turchin  to  be  placed  in  arrest,  and  a  Court-Martial 
was  appointed  to  try  him.  This  Court  consisted  of  General 
James  A.  Garfield,  president,  and  Colonels  John  Beatty  of 
the  Third  Ohio  Infantry,  Jacob  Ammen  of  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Ohio  Infantry,  Curran  Pope  of  the  Fifteenth  Ken 
tucky  Infantry,  T.  D.  Sedgewick  of  the  Second  Kentucky 
Infantry,  and  Marc  Mundy,  as  the  other  members  thereof. 
The  Court-Martial  met  first  at  Athens  and  then  at  Hunts- 
ville,  July  20.  Colonel  Turchin  was  convicted  and  sen 
tenced  to  be  dismissed  the  service  of  the  United  States,  the 
Court  having  found  him  guilty  of  "neglect  of  duty,  to  the 
prejudice  of  good  order  and  military  discipline,"  of  " diso 
bedience  of  orders,"  and  of  certain  specifications  to  these 
charges,  to  only  one  of  which  did  Turchin  plead  guilty,  that 
of  permitting  his  wife  to  accompany  him  while  serving  with 
troops  in  the  field.  The  proceedings  and  findings  of  the 
Court  were  forwarded  through  the  proper  channels;  but 
mark  the  sequel!  Before  that  Court-Martial  had  con 
cluded  its  work  and  made  its  decision,  a  far  more  important 
document  than  it  could  ever  have  drawn  up,  one  worthy  of 
the  officer  and  gentleman  to  whom  it  was  addressed,  was  on 


168  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

its  way  to  our  army  from  Washington.  It  contained  the 
commission  of  Brigadier  General  for  John  B.  Turchin,  signed 
by  Abraham  Lincoln;  and  thus  were  the  enemies  of  our 
gallant  Colonel  completely  headed  off,  while  to  the  Union 
was  given  another  "Star"  the  bearer  of  which  was  ever  of 
incalculable  value  to  his  adopted  country. 


Gen.  James  S.  Negley. 


CHAPTER  V. 

PAGE 

SERVICE  IN  TENNESSEE .172 

EXPEDITION  TO  CHATTANOOGA .173 

SERVICES  OF  THE  MOUNTED  SQUAD   .    .    .  174 

SERVICES  AT  NASHVILLE .    .    178 

GEN.    ROSECRANS   TAKES   COMMAND    OF   ARMY   OF 

THE  CUMBERLAND 178 

ADVANCE    ON    MURFREESBORO    AND    BATTLE   OF 

STONE  RIVER 181 

EXTRACT  FROM  "PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS"   (BY  EDDY.)    .  192 
LIST  OF  KILLED  AND  WOUNDED  196 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  171 


CHAPTER  V. 

Until  May  26,  our  brigade  remained  at  Huntsville;  then 
we  moved  to  Fayetteville,  where  the  once  " celebrated" 
body  of  thirty  mounted  men  selected  from  among  the  sol 
diers  of  Turchin's  command,  by  order  of  General  Mitchel, 
was  put  into  commission.  Of  this  force  at  least  ten  or  a 
dozen  were  detailed  from  the  Nineteenth  Illinois,  with 
Lieutenant  " Billy"  Bishop,  of  Company  G,  assigned  to  the 
care  thereof,  and  Wildey  of  Company  A  as  its  First  Sergeant. 
These  thirty  " select  men"  were  promptly  dubbed  the 
"forty  thieves"  by  their  comrades  of  regiment  and  brigade, 
and  perhaps  there  was  some  slight  reason  for  this  peculiar 
designation.  To  begin  with,  each  man  had  to  furnish  his 
own  horse,  and  this  could  be  done  only  with  the  assistance- 
gratuitous  or  otherwise — of  the  farmers  round.  We  recall 
the  names  only  of  Comrades  Wildey,  Massey  and  Gaffney, 
of  Company  A  and  Gillespie  and  Haynie,  of  Company  D; 
there  certainly  were  two  men  from  Company  K,  but  of  the 
others — Time  has  obliterated  all  recollection  of  them.  It 
was  the  duty  of  this  chosen  band  of  horsemen  to  act  as  danger 
scouts,  to  fetch  and  carry  sudden  and  imperative  messages, 
in  short,  to  lead  most  impulsive  and  perilous  lives.  The 
squad  was  disbanded  on  our  return  to  Nashville  in  the 
Autumn  of  1862. 

Only  a  short  time  before  the  formation  of  this  incompara 
ble  adjunct  to  Mitchel's  Division,  the  Nineteenth  was  on  an 
expedition,  under  Brigadier  General  James  S.  Negley,  which 
proved  to  be  a  most  important  event  in  the  Regiment's 
career.  Kirby  Smith,  in  command  of  the  Confederate  army 


172  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

at  Chattanooga,  ashamed,  perhaps,  of  his  futile  efforts  to 
drive  0.  M.  Mitchel  out  of  the  country,  was  believed  to  be 
preparing  to  sweep  down  on  our  Division  with  a  considerable 
force,  thus  threatening  our  communications  with  Nashville. 
Mitchel  decided  to  make  the  first  move,  however,  more  for 
the  purpose  of  keeping  Kirby  Smith  at  home  than  with  any 
hope  of  capturing  Chattanooga.  He  constructed  a  rude 
gunboat  to  move  up  the  Tennessee  and  supply  his  soldiers 
when  they  should  reach  that  river,  and  Negley  was  detailed 
to  lead  the  expedition.  He  started  from  Columbia,  Ten 
nessee,  May  29,  picking  up  Turchin's  and  Sill's  Brigades  at 
Fayetteville  the  second  of  June,  on  the  wray.  The  march 
from  the  latter  place  was  through  Salem,  Winchester,  and 
Cowan ;  we  had  reached  the  foot  of  the  Cumberland  Moun 
tains  by  the  evening  of  the  third.  That  first  range  was 
crossed  next  day,  and,  after  passing  through  Sequatchie 
Valley  and  the  town  of  Jasper,  Negley  bivouacked  his  force 
at  the  foot  of  the  second  range. 

The  distance  thus  far  covered  was  about  forty  miles, 
counting  the  valley  between  the  two  ranges,  and  the  artil 
lery  carriages  had  frequently  to  be  lifted  up  their  steep  and 
rocky  sides.  Horses  dropped  dead  in  the  harness  by  dozens, 
and  mounted  officers  of  the  expedition  were  compelled  to  give 
up  their  steeds  to  fill  the  vacant  teams.  Negley's  movements 
were  so  swift,  however,  that  the  Confederate  General  Adams, 
commanding  a  brigade  near  Jasper,  had  no  knowledge  of  our 
approach  till  the  fifth  of  June.  Early  that  morning  Negley 
and  his  escort  were  picking  their  way  along  the  rocky  moun 
tain  side,  when  the  advance  came  trotting  back  with  Adam's 
pickets,  who  had  been  surprised  and  captured  without 
alarming  the  main  force  of  the  enemy.  Taking  with  him 
two  guns,  Negley  dashed  forward  with  his  cavalry,  sur 
prised  Adams  completely,  and  the  latter  at  once  began  a 
precipitate  retreat  through  a  narrow  lane  toward  Jasper. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  173 

The  Union  cavalry  was  soon  upon  him,  however,  sabering 
right  and  left;  and  the  narrow  land  and  broken  ground 
alone  prevented  the  enemy  from  being  totally  destroyed. 
The  "  Johnnies"  fled  in  wildest  disorder,  strewing  the  land 
for  miles  with  guns,  swords,  and  pistols.  They  did  not  stop 
running  until  they  reached  Chattanooga,  leaving  some 
twenty  of  their  dead,  as  many  who  were  wounded,  twelve 
others  as  prisoners,  and  their  ammunition  and  supply  train 
in  our  hands.* 

The  sixth  of  June,  Negley  sent  Colonel  Sill  to  Shell 
Mound  to  divert  the  enemy  at  that  point,  and  prevent  them 
crossing,  whilst  the  Nineteenth  Illinois  under  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Scott,  was  detached  from  the  column  for  the  purpose 
of  overcoming  the  Cumberland  Mountains  by  a  much 
shorter  but  very  rough  route,  thus  cutting  off  the  retreat  of 
the  foe.  That  march,  or  rather  climb,  was  mainly  by  nar 
row  paths,  to  which,  however,  the  boys  did  not  confine 
themselves  where  trees  and  rocks  permitted  of  expansion; 
yet  we  made  such  good  time  that  the  Regiment  was  opposite 
Chattanooga  driving  in  rebel  scouts  and  pickets  before  the 
main  force  was  within  half  a  dozen  miles  of  the  place.  Adams 
who  had  been  so  badly  punished  back  in  Sequatchie  Valley, 
had  undoubtedly  carried  the  news  of  our  approach;  but  as 
we  gazed  on  the  city  across  the  river  no  signs  of  their  knowl 
edge  of  our  near  presence  was  visible.  When  Negley's  entire 
force  arrived  the  sharp  engagement,  if  such  it  may  be  called, 
began,  though  not  immediately.  Close  to  the  river's  bank 
the  Confederates  had  thrown  up  earthworks,  and  just  the 
other  side  of  these  was  a  large  brick  warehouse,  while  be 
yond  the  town  the  enemy  was  encamped.  The  first  cannon 
shot  was  directed  at  the  brick  warehouse,  but  it  fell  short; 
the  second  shot  went  too  far;  and  the  third  plunged  into  the 
roof,  thereby  stirring  up  great  commotion.  From  doors, 

*Chaplain  Van  Home. 


174  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

windows,  every  possible  egress  indeed,  the  foe  came  tumbling 
out,  and  each  succeeding  shell  quickened  their  movements. 
Then  they  commenced  to  reply  to  our  cannonade  and  the 
fight  was  on. 

The  bombardment  and  defense  was  kept  up  for  three 
hours  or  so,  the  infantry  taking  part  in  the  combat,  and  then 
we  found  rest  in  sleep.  On  the  morning  of  the  eighth  the 
firing  began  again  and  continued  for  about  six  hours;  and 
meanwhile  Companies  A  and  C,  supported  by  Companies 
D,  E,  and  F  of  the  Nineteenth,  deployed  as  skirmishers 
along  the  river  bank  and  prevented  the  enemy  from  inter 
fering  too  eagerly  in  this  artillery  duel.  Our  regimental 
loss  in  this  affair  was  only  one  mortally  and  two  severely 
wounded;  and  thus  ended  an  expedition  to  a  City  with  which 
we  had  much  better  acquaintance  later  on  in  the  war.  Mitch- 
el's  object  had  been  fully  accomplished,  for  Kirby  Smith 
was,  at  least  for  a  time,  diverted  from  contemplated  raids, 
and  the  brigade  returned  in  due  course  to  Shelby ville. 
"The  main  advantage  resulting  was  the  intensification  of 
the  enemy's  confusion,  and  the  consequent  derangement  of 
his  plans,"  remarks  Chaplain  Van  Horn  in  his  " History  of 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland." 

Soon  after  our  return  to  Fay ette ville  two  regiments, 
the  Nineteenth  being  one  of  them,  were  sent  on  an  expedition 
to  Larkins ville  and  Stevenson,  Alabama,  which  kept  us 
occupied  until  June  15.  That  day  we  started  for  Win 
chester,  Tennessee,  where  we  remined  some  little  time;  and 
while  there  two  members  of  the  mounted  scouts  already 
referred  to  were  suddenly  called  upon  for  perilous  work, 
that  of  carrying  a  message  of  distress  from  Turchin  to 
Mitchel,  forty-five  miles  away.  Others  of  the  " thirty" 
had  reported  the  enemy  as  closing  in  on  Winchester  in  heavy 
force,  and  as  Turchin 's  orders  were  to  hold  the  town  until 
further  instructions  reached  him,  it  was  impossible  to 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  175 

evacuate  the  place  without  permission  from  superior  author 
ity.  So  he  determined  to  inform  General  Mitchel  of  the 
threatening  danger  and  to  abide  by  the  result,  whatever 
it  might  be.  Thereupon  he  called  on  Lieutenant  Bishop 
for  a  detail  of  two  men  to  carry  his  message  to  Huntsville. 

These  details  for  secret  service  always  came  alapha- 
betically  and  it  was  the  turn  of  G  and  H  to  "ride  forth" 
on  whatever  dangerous  mount  the  assignment  meant.  But 
"  Johnnie"  Gillespie  and  Hugh  Massey  had  made  some  sort 
of  a  trade  by  which  it  was  the  big,  jovial  Irishman  who  rode 
with  another  that  day  of  fifty  years  ago.  Both  men  were 
ordered  to  report  to  the  Brigade  Commander,  and  there  the 
message  to  Mitchel  was  read  and  re-read  by  them  until  they 
had  fully  memorized  it.  Then  it  was  given  to  one,  with 
instructions  not  to  let  it  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy 
under  any  circumstances,  and  if  destroyed  its  contents  must 
be  conveyed  verbally  to  General  Mitchel.  It  was  about 
eleven  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  when,  dressed  in  civilian 
clothes,  those  two  members  of  the  Nineteenth  left  Win 
chester.  After  galloping  along  for  about  ten  miles  they 
came  to  a  blacksmith  shop  on  the  pike,  where  a  native 
smithy  was  shoeing  a  remarkably  fine  mare  belonging  to  a 
neighboring  farmer.  Massey's  mount  had  been  giving 
signs  of  distress,  therefore  a  war  exchange  was  deemed 
expedient;  and  when  the  mare  had  been  properly  shod,  his 
saddle  was  quickly  changed,  and  they  proceeded  on  their 
way  toward  Huntsville. 

Along  about  four  o'clock  they  stopped  at  a  plantation 
house  where  only  black  people  were  found.  To  a  darkey 
was  entrusted  the  watering  and  feeding  of  the  horses,  and 
an  old  " mammy"  prepared  some  coffee,  the  boys  supplying 
her  with  that  material.  They  had  been  there  hardly  half 
an  hour  when  the  negro  placed  as  lookout  dashed  up,  shout 
ing,  "Dey's  a-comin',  Massa!  Dey's  a-comin'!"  Rushing 


176  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

to  the  door  the  scouts  saw,  far  up  from  the  hill  road,  a  body 
of  mounted  men  riding  leisurely  in  their  direction,  and  the 
.darkies  all  were  "sartain  suah"  these  were  Confederates. 
Quickly  the  horses  were  re-saddled,  and  our  two  comrades 
were  off  again,  riding  slowly  at  first  so  as  not  to  attract  too 
much  attention  from  the  enemy.  But  they  were  soon 
recognized  and  then  began  a  sharp  race.  Near  by  was  a 
shallow  stream  of  water,  and  to  the  great  annoyance  of  both 
scouts  their  animals  insisted  on  stopping  therein  until  they 
filled  themselves.  The  trusted  darkey  had  been  too  lazy 
to  properly  care  for  them.  Meanwhile  the  pursuing  foe 
was  drawing  so  closely  near  that  their  shouts  could  be  heard, 
and  presently  they  began  to  fire.  It  seemed  as  if  those 
horses  would  never  get  their  fill  of  water;  but  at  last  they 
showed  signs  of  willingness  to  proceed,  and  then  the  scouts 
dashed  on.  Their 's  being  the  fresher  mounts,  they  soon 
found  it  would  be  possible  to  escape  pursuit  whenever  neces 
sary,  but,  in  order  to  save  the  horses,  the  speed  was  checked 
somewhat,  and  meanwhile  the  foe  came  on  at  hard  gallop, 
yelling  "to  beat  the  band."  Suddenly,  at  their  front,  the 
two  scouts  heard  the  summons,  "Halt!"  it  came  from  the 
bushes  at  the  roadside,  and  in  another  moment  both  were  in 
the  hands  of  a  mounted  force  wearing  "butternut"  uni 
forms!  Naturally  they  believed  themselves  in  the  grip  of 
another  enemy;  but  just  then  an  officer  in  blue  made  his 
appearance.  A  hasty  explanation  was  made,  and  he  was 
informed  that  if  he  withdrew  his  men,  there  was  good  chance 
of  capturing  a  few  rebels.  Quickly  acting  on  this  suggestion, 
he  placed  his  force  in  the  woods;  then,  on  their  being  ordered 
to  surrender,  the  pursuing  body  made  a  bold  fight,  but  were 
soon  overcome,  and  so  it  happened  that  some  twenty-five 
prisoners  were  taken  into  camp. 

Meanwhile  the  two  scouts  from  the  Nineteenth  were 
riding  toward  Huntsville,  but  it  was  close  on  to  midnight 


- 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  177 

when  they  safely  handed  the  important  dispatch  to  the 
Assistant  Adjutant  General,  occupied  at  that  late  hour  in 
writing  letters  home.  He  ordered  the  men  to  go  to  bed  and 
report  at  headquarters  next  morning  at  eight  o'clock.  With 
some  difficulty  they  found  lodgings;  and  hardly  were  they 
asleep  than  loud  knockings  came  upon  the  bed  room  door. 
General  Mitchel  wanted  them  at  his  tent  at  once.  Hastily 
dressing,  they  followed  the  Orderly  back  to  headquarters. 
It  was  now  half-past  two  o'clock!  Mitchel  had  been 
awakened;  he  read  the  message  from  Turchin  informing 
him  of  the  near  approach  on  Winchester  of  a  large  force  of 
the  enemy  with  the  Colonel's  compliments,  and  wishing  to 
know  what  he  must  do  under  the  circumstances. 

uGet  your  horses  at  once,  and  prepare  to  ride  to  Win 
chester,"  said  the  General  commanding.  But  Massey 
ventured  to  insist  that  the  horses  wrere  too  tired  to  make  the 
return  journey  so  soon,  and  asked  for  new  mounts.  There 
upon  the  Assistant  Adjutant  General  said  that  two  others 
of  the  thirty  had  not  been  on  duty  for  several  hours,  that 
their  horses  were  fresh,  and  he  ventured  to  suggest  they  be 
sent  with  the  message  to  Colonel  Turchin.  General  Mitchel 
accepted  this  advice,  instructed  the  new  arrivals  to  report 
at  seven  o'clock,  then  dismissed  them.  They  reported  at 
the  hour  mentioned,  then  started  back  to  Winchester. 
When  they  came  within  about  six  miles  of  that  place  they 
met  the  column  marching  away  from  danger.  The  other 
two  scouts  had  brought  orders  to  Turchin  to  withdraw  his 
force  immediately,  and  the  Colonel  lost  no  time  in  obeying. 
During  this  sudden  march  the  Brigade,  the  Nineteenth  in 
advance,  was  fired  on  by  guerillas  in  Paint  Rock  Valley,  and 
as  it  had  been  previously  commanded  by  General  Buell  that 
whenever  this  occurred  houses  in  the  immediate  neighbor 
hood  must  be  destroyed,  Turchin  reluctantly  gave  orders 
to  apply  the  torch.  Three  or  four  homes  were  thus  burned 


178  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

in  return  for  the  wounding  of  our  men  by  skulking  scalawags. 
It  was  pitiful,  but  it  was  war. 

The  Nineteenth  Illinois  was  next  put  to  guarding 
bridges  in  little  squads  scattered  in  stockades  along  the 
railroad  from  Huntsville  to  Decatur,  and  thence  to  Columbia. 
When  the  Confederate  army  under  General  Bragg  moved 
from  Chattanooga,  by  Sparta  and  Carthage,  to  invade 
Kentucky,  and  had  struck  at  Buell's  communications  be 
tween  Bowling  Green  and  Franklin,  the  Brigade  was  con- 
concentrated  at  Nashville.  The  Nineteenth  was  one  of  the 
last  regiments  withdrawn  from  the  front,  during  which 
movement  it  had  several  times  to  fight  the  enemy,  each  time 
successfully.  It  was  a  way  we  had  in  those  days  of  long  ago. 
We  reached  the  capital  of  Tennessee  the  fifth  of  September, 
1862,  and  remained  there  under  Negley  during  the  partial 
blockade  of  the  city  against  Breckenridge's  force,  meanwhile 
having  our  full  share  of  guard  and  picket  duty,  short  ra 
tions,  and  sharp  skirmishes.  At  Edgefield  Junction,  on  the 
fifth  of  November,  we  had  quite  a  time  of  it  with  Forrest's 
Cavalry,  and  repulsed  him  handsomely  in  that  spirited  affair. 
It  looked  occasionally  during  the  seige  as  though  we  might 
have  to  surrender,  unless  speedily  reinforced;  and  while  it 
was  no  easy  matter  to  hold  Nashville  and  gather  supplies 
from  the  country  round,  as  we  had  to  do,  this  was  success 
fully  accomplished. 

After  the  Battle  of  Perry ville  (or  Chaplin  Hills),  Ken 
tucky,  fought  October  1-8,  by  a  part  of  Buell's  army  and 
Bragg's  full  force,  and  which  was  a  serious  defeat  to  the 
Union  troops,  Major  General  W.  S.  Rosecrans  superseded 
Don  Carlos  in  command.  This  was  brought  about  by 
General  Orders  No.  168,  War  Department,  which  also 
changed  the  name  of  the _" Army  of  the  Ohio"  to  that  of 
11  Department  of  the  Cumberland"  while  designating  the 
troops  in  this  new  Department  as  the  Fourteenth  Army 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  179 

Corps.  This  designation  of  department  soon  gave  place 
to  the  more  appropriate  and  popular  one  of  Army  of  the 
Cumberland,  and  it  so  remained  ever  after.  And  it  was  as 
a  small  but  effective  part  of  that  Army  that  the  Nineteenth 
Illinois  gained  nearly  all  the  renown  and  distinction  it  ever 
bore. 

With  Nashville  secure  in  his  possession,  Rosecrans 
turned  his  attention  to  the  re-establishment  of  his  army,  and 
on  the  seventh  of  November  he  announced  in  General  Orders 
its  reorganization.  Under  the  new  arrangement  the  Nine 
teenth  was  brigaded  with  the  Eighteenth  and  Sixty-ninth 
Ohio  and  the  Eleventh  Michigan  Infantry  regiments,  and  thus 
we  came  to  be  in  the  Second  Brigade,  Colonel  T.  R.  Stanley 
commanding,*  and  in  the  Second  Division,  under  General 
James  S.  Negley.  We  were  already  beginning  to  like  Rose 
crans,  and  we  are  proud  to  have  served  with  him,  as  we  did 
for  nearly  a  whole  year.  Few  commanders  of  his  time 
possessed  such  military  knowledge  and  fertility  in  the  hour 
of  trial,  seems  to  be  the  summing  up  of  military  critics  of 
Major  General  Rosecrans.  To  us  he  was  always  a  soldier, 
brave,  accomplished,  and  devoutly  religious.  "  Old  Rosey, " 
as  we  soon  came  to  call  him,  was,  however,  a  man  of  fiery 
nature,  the  hot  spirit  sending  a  flush  into  his  face.  His 
temper  subsided  as  quickly  as  it  rose,  and  his  troops  adored 
him. 

By  the  middle  of  November,  1862,  the  whole  Army  of 
the  Cumberland  had  reached  Nashville,  and  it  was  now 
officially  divided  into  the  Center,  the  Right,  and  the  Left 
wings.  George  H.  Thomas  commanded  the  Center,  Alex 
ander  McDowell  McCook  that  of  the  Right,  and  Thomas 
L.  Crittenden  the  Left  wing.  In  the  Right  wing  were  three 
Divisions — one  commanded  by  Jefferson  C.  Davis,  a  second 

*Turchin,  now  a  Brigadier  General,  was  in  command  of  a  brigade  in  another  Divi 
sion. 


180  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

by  Richard  W.  Johnson,  the  third  by  Philip  H.  Sheridan. 
In  the  Center  wing  were  the  Divisions  of  Lovell  H.  Rousseau 
— a  loyal  and  gallant  Kentuckian — James  S.  Negley,  and 
John  M.  Palmer,  of  Illinois;  and  in  that  of  the  Left  were  the 
Divisions  of  Thomas  J.  Wood,  and  Horatio  P.  Van  Cleve. 
Curious  to  note,  the  Nineteenth  was  the  only  Illinois  regi 
ment  remaining  in  Negley's  Division.  Rosecrans  would 
not  budge  from  Nashville,  however,  until  he  had  accumulated 
two  million  rations  at  that  place,  and  meanwhile  this  gave 
our  Regiment  an  opportunity  of  displaying  itself  on  frequent 
occasions.  Over  us  loomed  Fort  Negley,  one  of  the  largest 
and  strongest  of  the  many  fortifications  thrown  around  the 
Capital  City,  while  in  front  of  that  stronghold,  interiorly 
speaking,  was  an  open  ground  whereon  thousands  of  people — 
soldiers  and  citizens — were  wont  to  assemble  of  Sunday 
afternoon  to  witness  the  Dress  Parade  of  the  Nineteenth, 
now  acknowledged  by  all  to  be  the  best  drilled  regiment  in 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  But  we  had  something  more 
serious  to  do  than  thus  exhibit  ourselves,  as  is  shown  by  the 
Official  Report  of  Colonel  Scott  printed  in  Series  1,  Volume 
XX,  Part  One,  " Official  Records  of  the  Union  and  Confed 
erate  Armies,"  prepared  under  the  direction  of  the  Secre 
tary  of  War,  and  published,  pursuant  to  acts  of  Congress,  at 
Washington  in  1887. 

The  year  1862  was  about  ended,  but,  undaunted  by  the 
snow-storms,  and  hearing  that  General  Bragg  had  come  for 
ward  towards  him  from  Chattanooga  as  far  as  Murfrees- 
boro,  Tennessee,  thirty  miles  away,  Rosecrans  at  last 
marched  out  of  Nashville,  boldly  looking  for  a  December 
struggle  before  Winter  quarters  were  taken  up.  The  tenth 
of  December  Negley's  Division  advanced  about  eight  miles 
and  camped  on  the  Franklin  Pike,  where  we  remained  until 
the  day  after  Christmas  when  a  general  movement  of  the 
army  was  made  towards  where  Bragg  was  awaiting  it;  and 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  181 

as  we  marched  southward  we  sang  all  "the  good  old  songs" 
which  Root  and  others  had  composed  up  to  that  time. 
We  did  not  know  as  yet,  however,  that  very  soon  one  of  the 
most  severe  battle  of  the  Civil  War,  in  which  at  least  a  fourth 
of  the  entire  force  on  both  sides  would  be  placed  hors  combat 
within  three  days,  was  to  be  our  portion. 

Two  miles  or  so  westward  of  the  town  of  Murfreesboro, 
Tennessee,  the  railroad  and  the  turnpike  cross  Stone  River, 
a  sluggish  tributary  of  the  Cumberland;  and  this  triple  line 
of  road,  rail  and  sinuous  stream  was  made  the  scene  of  some 
of  the  most  obstinate  fighting  in  the  history  of  wars.  Rose- 
cran's  force  numbered  about  44,800  men;  that  of  Bragg  was 
perhaps  a  little  less,  but  he  was  on  ground  of  his  own  choos 
ing.  The  two  opposed  battle  lines  ran  from  North  to  South, 
the  turnpike,  railroad  and  river  already  mentioned  crossing 
them  at  right  angles  and  not  far  apart.  On  the  Union  right 
stood  McCook;  then  Thomas  in  the  center;  then  Crittenden 
on  the  left.  Facing  them,  from  right  to  left,  were  Brecken- 
ridge,  Polk  and  Hardee.  Both  armies  were,  for  most  part, 
in  a  country  roughly  level,  with  forest  (cedar  thickets  es 
pecially)  and  clearing  intermingled.  On  the  night  of  De 
cember  29,  the  Union  army  approached  the  enemy's  position, 
Negley's  Division  being  in  the  center,  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  thirtieth,  the  Nineteenth,  deployed  as  skirmishers, 
entered  the  cedars  and  attacked  the  Confederates,  driving 
them  across  Wilkinson  Pike  into  the  woods,  where  our 
further  progress  was  suddenly  checked  by  the  uprising  of  a 
very  strong  force  from  behind  brick-kilns ;  and  there  Colonel 
Scott's  boys  were  compelled  to  fall  back.  Hardly  more  than 
skirmishing  here  and  there  along  the  front  was  indulged  in 
during  the  thirtieth,  but  at  last  night  came  down  and  the 
contending  forces  slept  on  a  field  which  soon  became  memor 
able  in  American  history.  Some  interesting  and  amusing 


182  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

incidents  might  be  given  here  of  our  horse-meat  supper  and 
other  sensations  that  night,  but  we  pass  that  temptation  by 
and  proceed  with  the  battle  itself,  giving  however,  the 
premier  pas  to  the  late  George  Cary  Eggleston,  a  distin 
guished  author  and  journalist,  himself  a  soldier  in  the  Con 
federate  Army,  who  wrote: 

" Bragg  was  an  officer  of  great  energy  and  activity,  and 
he  had  under  his  command  a  force  nearly  if  not  quite  equal 
to  that  of  his  foe;  and  now  that  Rosecrans  was  in  his  front, 
he  determined  to  assume  the  aggressive  and  himself  bring 
on  the  action.  His  plan  was  absolutely  identical  with  that 
of  Rosecrans,  namely  to  push  forward  his  Left  wing,  envelop 
and  crush  the  enemy's  Right,  and  by  successive  right  wheels 
to  destroy  the  foe  or  drive  him  into  retreat.  Thus  Rosecrans 
intended  to  begin  the  battle  at  one  end  of  the  line  while 
Bragg  meant  to  begin  it  at  the  other.  Each,  of  course, 
massed  his  forces  at  the  point  where  he  purposed  to  make 
his  first  assault,  and  each  thus  weakened  his  line  at  the  point 
which  his  enemy  was  planning  to  assail.  As  a  consequence 
the  initiatory  advantage  must  of  necessity  lie  with  the  force 
which  should  succeed  in  making  itself  the  first  aggressor, 
bringing  on  the  engagement  before  the  other  was  ready  and 
striking  the  other's  weakest  wing  with  his  own  strongest 
divisions.  That  advantage  fell  to  Bragg  as  a  reward  for  his 
alertness  in  striking  as  soon  as  possible  after  dawn  on  the 
last  day  of  the  year  1862.  He  had  so  extended  his  left,  as 
completely  to  overlap  Rosecrans'  Right  and  he  fell  upon  it 
in  flank  with  resistless  impetuosity.  The  force  defending  it 
was  quickly  crushed  and  the  Confederates,  advancing  with 
enthusiasm,  bent  back  the  next  Division  encountered,  and 
after  some  strenuous  fighting,  forced  it  to  retire  upon  a  new 
line  which  Rosecrans  hastily  established  at  right  angles  to 
that  of  the  morning.  The  fighting  continued  with  desperate 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  183 

determination  and  great  slaughter  on  both  sides  until  night 
fall.  The  advantage  was  conspicuously  with  the  Confed 
erates,  though  there  was  no  decisive  victory  won.  . 
Rosecrans  had  been  badly  worsted,  but  he  was  not  yet  beaten. 
His  army  was  not  demoralized,  and  his  own  determination 
was  not  impaired.  He  took  account  of  his  ammunition,  sent 
detachments  to  protect  his  communications,  and  resolved 
to  hold  his  position  and  renew  the  battle  on  the  following  day, 
either  as  the  assailant  of  his  enemy  or  as  the  assaulted,  as 
circumstances  might  determine.  But  the  next  day  was 
passed  in  inaction  on  both  sides,  and  it  was  not  until  the 
second  of  January,  1863,  that  the  battle  was  renewed. 

"Two  days  later  and  after  desultory  fighting,  General 
Bragg  abandoned  his  position  at  Murfreesboro  and  retired 
to  Duck  River,  where  he  fortified.  He  reported  his  losses  in 
this  battle — which  is  variously  known  as  Murfreesboro, 
and  Stone  River — at  10,000  men,  and  declared  that  he  had 
taken  6,000  prisoners.  He  also  claimed  to  have  captured 
thirty  guns  and  lost  three.  On  the  other  hand,  General 
Rosecrans  reported  a  loss  of  8,778  in  killed  and  wounded, 
and  about  2,800  in  prisoners  lost  to  the  enemy — a  total  of 
somewhat  less  than  11,000.  The  two  reports  are  hopelessly 
at  variance  and  irreconcilable,  as  to  the  number  of  prisoners 
taken,  as  was  usually  the  case  with  the  reports  of  battle 
losses  at  that  period  of  the  war.  They  were  usually  inac 
curate  and  never  trustworthy.  But  whatever  the  exact 
losses  were  on  either  side,  they  were  far  greater  than  were 
those  of  many  more  famous  battles,  and  about  as  great  as 
those  of  the  battles  commonly  accounted  as  of  superior 
proportions.  Thus  the  loss  admitted  by  the  Confederates 
at  Murfreesboro  out  of  a  force  of  about  40,000  men,  was 
nearly  twice  that  which  Lee,  with  a  force  of  68,000,  suffered 
at  Fredericksburg;  while  the  admitted  Federal  loss  at 
Mursfreesboro,  where  the  army  numbered  43,700  men,  was 


184  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

very  nearly  as  great  as  that  sustained  by  Burnside's  army 
of  120,000  at  Fredericksburg,  including  the  fearful  slaughter 
in  the  six  terrible  assaults  upon  Marye's  Heights.  Obviously 
the  Battle  of  Stone  River  must  be  accounted  one  of  the 
bloodiest  struggles  of  the  war,  as  well  as  one  of  the  most 
heroically  contested  on  both  sides." 

Before  giving  our  account  of  this  battle,  we  wish  to 
quote  another  distinguished  authority  as  to  that  first  day's 
fighting.  In  the  "Appeal  to  Arms, "  volume  twenty  of  the 
' American  Nation"  series  (Harper  &  Brothers),  Dr.  James 
Kendall  Hosmer  says:  "Next  day  (December  31),  the 
Union  left  was  promptly  on  foot,  Van  Cleve's  Division 
crossing  with  alacrity  the  ford  which  separated  it  from  Breck- 
enridge;  but  just  here  came  upon  their  ears  the  sound  of 
battle  from  the  southwest.  Bragg,  more  prompt,  had 
attacked  at  dawn — Hardee,  with  two  splendid  divisions, 
charging  across  the  few  hundred  intervening  paces.  A 
woeful  unpreparedness  prevailed  on  the  Federal  right; 
the  Division  commander  and  Brigade  commander,  at  the 
end  of  the  wing,  were  not  immediately  at  hand,  and  the 
horses  of  some  of  the  batteries  had  been  taken  off  to  water. 
This  negligence  was  unpardonable  before  a  soldier  like 
Hardee,  whose  principal  lieutenant  was  Patrick  Cleburne, 
an  Irishman  full  of  the  best  martial  quality  of  his  race. 
The  Confederate  charge  could  not  be  more  impetuous; 
McCook's  first  Division,  that  of  Johnson,  was  crumbled 
up  and  consumed.  Jefferson  C.  Davis,  who  stood  next, 
having  a  little  time  to  spring  to  arms,  stuck  longer,  but  soon 
his  division  was  in  flight.  Next  came  Phil  Sheridan's  turn, 
and  by  mid-forenoon  the  Federal  right  was  turned  back 
like  a  knife-blade  half  shut.  But  here,  just  at  the  hinge, 
stood  Thomas,  stayer  of  onslaughts  on  bloody  fields  before 
the  present  one.  On  this  day  he  was  wanting  in  no  point 
of  conduct,  and  the  men  that  surrounded  him  were  worthy 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  185 

of  their  chief.  His  two  divisions  stood  immovable;  behind 
them  rallied  the  fugitives  from  the  Right,  that  had  been 
driven  but  were  not  demoralized.  Rosecrans,  though  sur 
prised,  was  neither  dazed  nor  disheartened.  In  haste,  re 
calling  Van  Cleve,  whose  troops  came  back  dripping  from  the 
ford,  he  postponed  his  own  scheme,  galloping  at  once  to  his 
Center.  He  formed  immediately  a  new  line  in  front  of  the 
Nashville  Pike,  a  road  which  it  was  indispensable  to  hold 
and  guard.  Whatever  help  can  come  to  hard-pressed  ranks 
from  the  magnetism  of  a  commander's  presence  was  abun 
dantly  afforded  that  day.  He  rode  from  point  to  point  of 
greatest  peril,  the  cannon-ball  that  slew  his  chief  of  staff 
grazing  him.  Hardee,  and  also  Polk,  who  in  good  time 
had  rushed  in  with  the  Confederate  center,  were  sternly 
held;  and  when  the  darkness  came  of  a  short  winter  day, 
Bragg's  victory  was  not  complete. 

The  cold  night  fell,  the  winter  heavens  dimly  lighting 
up  the  groups  shivering  by  the  camp-fires  and  the  dreadful 
field  with  its  burden  of  mutilation  and  death.  On  New 
Year's  Day,  1863,  the  fight  was  not  renewed  till  late  in  the 
day,  the  Federals  then  seizing  ground  which  threatened  the 
Confederate  Right.  On  January  2,  for  a  time,  the  com 
bat  raged  with  fury,  Breckenridge  striking  desperately. 
His  lines,  nevertheless,  were  crushed  by  artillery,  and  with 
their  recoil  the  battle  was  over — a  battle  in  which  neither 
side  could  claim  to  have  won.  Bragg  withdrew  at  once 
thirty-six  miles  South,  to  Tullahoma,  while  Rosecrans  held 
the  field." 

Let  us  now  look  at  this  great  Battle  of  Stone  River,  as 
seen  through  the  mind's-eye  of  vivid  memory  by  more  than 
one  of  those  who,  in  the  Nineteenth  Illinois,  participated  in 
that  combat  of  half  a  century  ago.  On  the  last  day  of  the 
year  1862,  we  in  the  center  had  all  the  work  on  hand  that 
could  possibly  be  attended  to;  and  as  the  surging  sound  of 


186  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

the  tussle  over  on  our  right  drew  louder  and  louder,  evi 
dently  directing  itself  somewhat  at  our  rear,  we  began  to 
choke  in  the  throat,  so  to  speak,  to  think  of  home,  and  to 
wondering  if  our  own  turn  would  come  soon.  The  right 
was  not  so  far  off  but  we  could  see  the  enemy  "  doubling 
up"  the  boys  in  blue,  nor  could  we  do  anything  toward  their 
relief,  as  the  enemy  was  also  close  upon  us,  having  advanced 
along  his  entire  line.  We  of  Negley's  and  Rousseau's 
Divisions  were  holding  the  center;  and  meanwhile  our 
comrades  were  falling  as  the  wheat  falls  before  cradling 
machines  at  harvest  time.  We  could  hear  the  hoarse  shriek 
of  shell,  the  swift  rattle  of  musketry,  the  sound  of  buzzing 
bullets,  the  impact  of  solid  shot,  the  chug  when  human 
forms  were  hit  hard,  the  yells  of  pain,  the  cries  of  agony,  the 
fearful  groans,  the  encouraging  words  of  man  to  man,  and 
the  death  gasps  which  told  of  those  who  reported  to  the 
God  of  Battles.  Hosmer  speaks  of  the  position  formed  by 
the  giving  way  of  the  Union  Right  as  "like  a  knife-blade 
turned  back  half  shut;"  to  us  it  seemed  like  an  inverted  A, 
the  point  toward  the  foe,  our  own  Division,  lapping  one  side 
of  the  acute  angle. 

For  several  hours  the  enemy's  effort  to  break  this  forma 
tion  was  fruitless.  In  vain  the  "  Johnnies"  thundered  against 
us,  firing  their  many  cannon  into  our  very  faces  at  point 
blank  range.  They  came  so  close  to  our  line  that  not  only 
did  we  see  their  every  movement,  but  we  could  hear  the 
commands  of  their  officers.  Still  closer  they  crept,  but  still 
more  firmly  did  Negley's  soldiers  hold  the  position  at  the 
point  of  that,  inverted  A.  The  ground  was  thick  strewn 
with  dead  and  wounded;  struck  horses,  no  longer  neighing 
or  whinnying,  were  agonizing  in  their  frantic  cries.  Cannon 
balls  cut  down  trees  around  and  over  us,  which,  falling, 
crushed  living  and  dead  alike.  " Steady,  men,  steady," 
sang  out  the  Colonels.  "Steady,  men,  steady,"  repeated 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  187 

the  company  officers;  and  the  boys,  true  to  themselves  and 
to  the  Colors,  held  steady,  like  the  mighty  oak,  whose  acorn 
came  to  be  their  Corps-Emblem  in  the  course  of  things. 

11  There  is  a  five-dollar  bill  in  my  watch-fob  pocket. 
Take  it  out  when  I'm  done  for, "  said  a  comrade  at  our  side. 
In  another  moment  the  well-known  chuck  of  bullet  was  heard, 
and  that  soldier  went  down,  fatally  wounded.  Some  in  the 
ranks  were  shouting  challenges  to  the  fighters  across  that 
deadly  field.  "Why  don't  you  come  over  and  take  us  into 
camp?"  uHey,  Johnny,  step  along  this  way,  a  little  quick 
er!"  "Ah,  yes,  Massa  Reb,  very  well  aimed,  but  it  never 
touched  me. "  There  were  others,  too,  who  were  whispering 
prayers,  taught  them  when  little  children,  by  loving  mothers 
now  weeping  great  tears  of  sympathy  for  and  belief  in  the 
adored  son  here  at  the  front  where  we  were  learning  that 
death  has  a  thousand  doors  to  let  out  life,  as,  in  the  midst 
of  unspeakable  danger,  we  heard  the  leaves  of  memory 
rustling  as  we  thought  of  those  whom  we  might  never  see 
again. 

No  longer  now  could  we  stand  up  to  fight  as  brave  men 
love  to  fight,  if  fight  they  must.  It  seemed  almost  sure 
death,  at  least  a  wound,  to  those  who  stood  erect,  and, 
obeying  orders,  gladly  perhaps,  we  hugged  old  Mother  Earth, 
meanwhile  firing  low  in  determined  effort  to  stay  the  on- 
rushing  tide  of  Gray.  The  trees  around  were  falling  on 
rank  and  file  alike,  breaking  and  maiming  them;  the  bullets 
and  shell-fragments  were  hitting  hard  and  fast;  and  those 
who  were  wounded  were  being  quickly  carried  back  to  where 
courageous  surgeons  were  sticking  to  their  duty  as  gallantly 
as  any  of  the  other  commissioned  officers  on  the  battle 
line. 

While  we  were  thus  hugging  the  earth  a  young  Aide-de- 
Camp  came  dashing  up  to  where  "Joe"  Scott  was.  "Colo 
nel,  General  Negley's  compliments,  and  orders  your  Battal- 


188  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

ion  to  hurry  to  the  support  of  yonder  guns, "  pointing  as  he 
spoke  to  where  Schultz's  'battery  was  feebly  blazing  away. 
No  sooner  were  the  words  uttered  than  Colonel  Scott,  spring 
ing  to  his  feet,  sang  out  " Attention,  Nineteenth!"  and  all 
and  every  one  not  dead  or  wounded  as  promptly  obeyed  his 
command  as  they  would  have  done  were  they  back  on  the 
parade  field  at  Nashville. 

"Dress  on  the  left,  Front!  Forward,  left  oblique, 
double-quick,  march ! "  The  sharp  order  was  repeated  along 
a  regimental  line  of  men  ever  quick  to  obey,  and  off  we 
rushed.  Into  the  jaws  of  death,  into  the  very  gates  of  hell, 
as  it  were,  the  Regiment  dashed,  and  presently  we  found 
ourselves  just  behind  all  that  was  left  of  a  famous  battery. 
A  short  while  previously  there  were  six  " beauties"  in  active 
use;  now  only  three  of  them  were  left  on  wheels,  though  still 
firing.  Nearly  all  the  gunners  were  down  and  out,  and  not 
a  horse  was  fit  for  use.  Those  of  the  Nineteenth  who  knew 
how  to  load  and  fire  cannon  sprang  to  the  help  of  the  sur 
viving  artillerymen.  From  caisson  to  prolong  those,  Illi 
nois  " dough-boys"  jumped  with  powder  bags  or  shell; 
charges  were  rammed  home;  percussions  or  primers  were 
placed;  hurried  aim  was  taken;  the  order  to  fire  followed 
quick,  and  so  messages  of  destruction  were  hurled  that 
afternoon  into  soldiers  not  two  hundred  yards  away.  Then 
came  piteous  appeal  from  a  wounded  artillery  officer  not  to 
let  a  single  gun  be  captured,  and  several  men  of  the  Regi 
ment  dragged  the  two  pieces  remaining  on  wheels  into  the 
woods,  to  where  we  were  now  falling  back. 

By  this  time  the  enemy  was  so  close  that  we  could  smell 
their  burning  powder  and  see  into  their  exulting  eyes.  For, 
maddened  by  this  resistance,  Bragg  was  hurling  the  entire 
left  and  center  of  his  army  against  Negley  and  Rousseau's 
Divisions — what  were  left  of  them — yet  was  he  being  held  in 
partial  check,  with  frightful  slaughter.  At  length,  however, 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  189 

Thomas  ordered  Rousseau  to  fall  back  out  of  the  cedars  and 
form  a  temporary  line  on  the  open  ground,  so  as  to  give 
Negley  a  chance  to  retire  to  a  higher  and  better  position. 
At  this  time,  in  order  to  check  the  enemy,  the  Nineteenth  not 
only  remained  in  line,  but  Colonel  Scott  boldly  advanced  it, 
and  it  stayed  there  for  nearly  half  an  hour,  being  at  one  time 
almost  completely  surrounded;  then  it  fought  its  way  out, 
passing  over  large  numbers  of  rebel  dead  and  wounded  in  a 
determined  and  successful  effort  to  join  the  main  body. 
On  rising  ground  just  West  of  the  Nashville  Pike  and  com 
manding  the  field,  Rosecrans  formed  his  new  line,  facing 
south  west  ward.  The  divisions  of  Johnson,  Davis,  and 
Sheridan  were  set  in  order;  Van  Cleve  and  Wood  were 
placed  behind  them  in  close  reserve;  all  that  was  left  of  the 
artillery  was  gathered  in  heavy  masses,  while  to  gain  time 
for  this  formation,  and  to  keep  in  touch  with  Palmer's 
Division,  on  our  left,  it  was  necessary  that  Thomas'  Corps 
should  check  the  further  advance  of  the  defiant  foe.  Negley's 
Division,  and  that  of  Rousseau,  quickly  rallied  on  the  Colors ; 
one  Brigade  of  Van  Cleve  came  as  support,  and  once  more  we 
were  ready  for  those  southern  gentlemen,  who,  apparently, 
seemed  quite  willing  to  do  all  that  was  expected  of  them. 
At  this  critical  moment  the  fighting  became  as  hot  and 
destructive  as  at  any  previous  time.  Thrice  did  the  "  John 
nies"  assault  our  line — it  was  grand  work  on  their  part — and 
thrice  were  they,  woefully  torn  with  grape  and  cannister  and 
musket  balls,  held  in  check,  which  was,  of  course,  great  work 
on  the  part  of  the  " Yankees."  The  thrill  of  repulse  was 
more  fierce  even  than  that  of  attack  had  been,  and  all  men 
were  heroes  then.  By  a  concentrated  effort  the  enemy  next 
tried  to  break  through  on  our  left  and  take  the  new  line  in 
flank,  but  Palmer  made  that  impossible.  Urged  by  Polk, 
their  Bishop  General,  the  Rebels  struggled  hard  to  obtain 
possession  of  a  grove  called  Round  Forest,  and  regarded  as 


190  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

the  key  of  our  left,  but  all  in  vain.  Then  General  Polk  sent 
across  the  river  to  Breckenridge,  whose  men  had  not  yet  been 
engaged,  for  reinforcements.  Two  brigades  were  promptly 
sent  at  about  three  o'clock,  and  the  attack  on  Round  Forest 
was  renewed.  It,  too,  was  unsuccessful;  and  so  badly  was 
the  enemy  smashed  that  it  did  little  more  until  nearly  five 
o'clock.  Then,  summoning  all  their  energies,  the  Confed 
erates  dashed  forward  in  one  supreme  effort;  but  Palmer's 
men  met  them  with  a  bayonet  charge  which  changed  their 
plan,  and  the  fight  in  that  part  of  the  field  was  ended. 
Meanwhile  the  rest  of  Bragg' s  force  attempted  to  break 
Rosecrans'  new  line  by  an  attack  in  front,  but  his  approach 
ing  soldiers  were  greeted  with  a  shower  of  grape  and  bullets 
which  nothing  human  could  stand  up  under;  and  hardly 
was  the  assault  begun  before  it  was  ended.  It  was  the 
Confederates  now  who  took  to  the  woods,  and  the  firing 
ceased. 

The  first  day  of  the  great  Battle  of  Stone  River  was  over. 

That  evening  our  Regiment  feasted  on  hot  coffee,  hard 
tack,  and  horse  steaks  broiled  on  coals;  and  while  Rose 
crans  and  his  Generals  were  holding  a  Council  of  War  the 
soldiers  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  were  sleeping 
peacefully  on  the  ground,  with  overcoats  and  the  twinkling 
stars  for  their  only  covering.  Next  day — January  1,  1863— 
very  little  was  attempted  on  either  side.  Negley's 
Division  was  ordered  to  the  extreme  right  to  support 
McCook,  in  anticipation  of  a  second  effort  of  the 
enemy;  and  Van  Cleve's  Division,  with  one  of  Palmer's 
brigades,  was  sent  to  seize  some  heights  on  the  East  side  of 
the  river  and  plant  batteries  there.  This  movement  was  not 
discovered  by  Bragg  until  the  morning  of  January  2,  on  which 
date  Rosecrans,  anticipating  an  attack  on  his  left,  brought  back 
our  Division,  and  posted  it  to  the  right  and  rear  of  Sam 
Beatty's  troops  who  were  beyond  the  river,  while  fifty-eight 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  191 

cannon  were  concentrated  back  of  Negley,  on  elevated 
ground.  Breckenridge  impetuously  attacked  our  left, 
routing  two  brigades  of  the  first  line  and  driving  them  pell- 
mell  to  the  river  and  across  it.  It  seemed  certain  that  Van 
Cleve  would  be  driven  from  the  heights  unless  help  reached 
him  promptly. 

" Who'll  lead  the  way?"  demanded  Negley.  " Who'll 
save  the  Left?"  he  called  out,  thus  asking  for  volunteers  for 
a  most  dangerous  and  almost  impossible  undertaking. 

"The  Nineteenth  Illinois!"  answered  Colonel  Scott; 
and  so  it  came  about  that  Our's  led  the  dash  at  double- 
quick  through  the  river — the  water  was  over  the  hips  of  the 
tallest,  up  to  the  ears  of  the  shortest  men — upon  the  enemy. 
This  incident  was  set  to  verse  by  a  soldier  in  another  regi 
ment,  and  to  music  by  George  Root,  famous  as  the  com 
poser  of  many  war  songs;  and  the  words  of  that  glorious 
anthem  may  be  found  on  another  page.  Up  the  muddy 
bank  right  at  the  foe  the  soldiers  of  the  Nineteenth  threw 
themselves,  and  close  at  their  heels  rushed  the  rest  of  the 
division.  Unable  to  withstand  this  sudden  onslaught,  but 
quickly  firing  a  volley  into  the  ranks  of  the  advancing  troops, 
the  Confederates  turned  and  fled  the  scene.  A  private  in 
Company  D  had  the  good  fortune  to  capture  a  rebel  flag  in 
that  wonderful  dash  beyond  Stone  River;  and  it  was  after 
ward  exhibited  at  the  great  Sanitary  Fair  in  New  York 
which  Mrs.  Mary  Livermore  had  gotten  up  for  the  benefit 
of  sick  and  wounded  soldiers.  In  this  gallant  charge  the 
Nineteenth  also  captured  several  cannon ;  and  one  may  read 
in  the  official  report  of  the  part  taken  in  the  battle  by  Com 
pany  H,  Fourth  United  States  Artillery,  this  striking  sen 
tence:  "In  place  of  our  disabled  piece,  the  Nineteenth 
Illinois  Infantry  gave  us  one  captured  from  the  enemy." 

The  Battle  of  Stone  River  was  over.  Soon  Bragg's 
shattered  army  was  miles  away,  and  Murfreesboro  was 


192  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

occupied  by  Union  troops.  Rosecrans  sent  this  dispatch: 
"We  have  fought  one  of  the  greatest  battles  of  the  war,  and 
are  victorious.  Our  entire  success  on  the  thirty-first  of 
December  was  prevented  by  a  surprise  of  the  right  flank; 
but  we  have,  nevertheless,  beaten  the  enemy,  after  a  three 
days'  battle.  They  fled  with  great  precipitancy  on  Satur 
day  night.  The  last  of  their  columns  of  cavalry  left  this 
morning.  Their  loss  has  been  heavy. "  And  to  this  message 
came  a  speedy  reply,  not  from  the  General-in-Chief  but, 
from  the  Executive  Mansion,  and  signed  A.  LINCOLN: 
'Your  dispatch  announcing  retreat  of  the  enemy  has  just 
reached  here.  God  bless  you,  and  all  with  you!  Please 
tender  to  all,  and  accept  for  yourself,  the  Nation's  gratitude 
for  your  and  their  skill,  endurance,  and  dauntless  courage." 

And  Halleck,  the  General-in-Chief,  dispatched:  "You 
and  your  brave  army  have  won  the  gratitude  of  your  Country 
and  the  admiration  of  the  world.  The  field  of  Murfreesboro 
is  made  historical,  and  future  generations  will  point  out  the 
places  where  so  many  heroes  fell,  gloriously,  in  defense  of  the 
Union.  All  honor  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland — thanks 
to  the  living,  and  tears  for  the  lamented  dead." 

In  Eddy's  "Patriotism  of  Illinois"  it  is  declared  that  in 
this  terrible  affair  no  regiment  vindicated  its  manhood  more 
generously  than  the  Nineteenth  Illinois,  and  that  book  says : 
"On  the  thirtieth  of  December  the  regiment  had  but  little 
to  do  and  lost  only  nine  men.  The  next  morning  it  was  up 
early  in  line  of  battle,  although  the  men  had  scarcely  eaten 
anything  and  slept  on  the  ground  without  their  blankets, 
which  were  in  the  wagon  trains,  miles  to  the  rear.  Soon, 
by  the  sound  of  the  musketry,  it  was  evident  the  rebels  had 
turned  our  right.  Thomas  had  lost  part  of  his  artillery  and 
the  veteran  troops  were  retiring.  Further  back,  toward 
the  rear,  firing  opened.  Then  the  Nineteenth  prepared  for 
the  fight.  They  changed  front,  fixed  bayonets,  and  charged, 


Gen.  W.  S.  Rosecraris. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  193 

the  foe  retiring  before  their  terrible  onset.  Heavy  firing 
commenced,  and  a  storm  of  bullets  whistled  through  their 
ranks.  At  the  first  fire  Corporal  Daggy  fell  mortally 
wounded.  The  enemy  were  repulsed,  but  the  Twenty- 
seventh  Illinois  were  hard  pressed  and  needed  aid.  The 
Nineteenth  faced  to  the  right  and  as  cooly  as  if  on  drill  the 
men  marched,  with  the  lamented  Scott  at  their  head,  through 
a  terrific  fire  of  shot  and  shell  and  took  position  by  the  side 
of  the  Eighteenth  Ohio.  Edgarton's  Battery  had  been 
taken  and  was  turned  upon  them,  and  other  batteries  opened 
a  fearful  fire.  Word  came  that  they  were  surrounded  and 
must  cut  their  way  out.  They  faced  about  again,  fixed 
bayonets,  rushed  into  a  cedar  swamp,  forced  their  way  out, 
and,  forming  on  the  left  of  Sheridan  moved  to  the  front  and 
went  again  into  action.  They  had  hardly  got  into  position 
before  portions  of  the  Division  fell  back  and  the  rebels  ad 
vanced.  General  Negley  ordered  the  Nineteenth  to  stand 
firm  until  the  rest  could  form,  and  for  half  an  hour,  with 
the  rebels  on  their  front,  and  flanks,  it  held  back  the  ad 
vancing  hosts  until  the  Eighteenth  Ohio  and  Forty-second 
Illinois  were  formed,  and  then  it  retired  to  the  center  as 
reserve. 

"On  Friday,  those  who  knew  the  position  of  Van  Cleve's 
division,  felt  certain  that  when  the  rebels  did  come  it  would 
fall  upon  the  extreme  Left.  At  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
the  fierce  cannonading  which  had  prevailed  for  some  time  on 
the  Left  was  accompanied  by  a  deafening  crash  of  mus 
ketry,  and  it  was  evident  the  battle  was  renewed  in  earnest. 
The  enemy  massed  three  of  his  divisions,  Rain's,  Anderson's 
and  Breckinridge's,  the  whole  under  command  of  the  latter, 
and  hurled  them  against  Van  Cleve.  His  men  bravely 
withstood  the  onset,  but  were  literally  overwhelmed  by 
superior  numbers  and  two  of  the  brigades  were  broken  to 
pieces.  The  other  held  its  ground  manfully,  but  to  save 


194  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

being  surrounded  had  to  retreat,  and  the  whole  were  pushed 
back  in  disorder  into  and  across  the  river.  The  rebels  were 
preparing  to  follow  when  Negley  suddenly  appeared  in  com 
pact  line  of  battle.  His  practiced  eye  at  once  saw  the 
danger  unless  an  almost  superhuman  effort  was  made.  He 
rode  rapidly  to  their  front,  and,  in  his  clear  voice,  shouted : 
'Who  will  save  the  Left?'  In  an  instant  came  back  the 
reply  from  the  gallant  Scott:  'The  Nineteenth  Illinois!' 
'The  Nineteenth  it  is  then!  By  the  left  flank,  march!' 
was  the  command.  Scott  put  his  cap  on  his  sword  and 
shouted  'Forward!'  His  men  lay  down  and  fired  one 
volley,  then  rose,  fixed  bayonets,  and  started  upon  that 
grand  charge  which  saved  the  day,  one  as  immortal  as  the 
charge  of  Balaklava.  Into  the  river  they  plunged  waist  deep, 
although  a  whole  rebel  division  was  disputing  the  passage; 
up  the  precipitous  bank,  bristling  with  bayonets;  baring 
their  heads  to  the  pitiless  leaden  rain;  against  bayonet  and 
shot  and  shell ;  careless  of  the  storm  that  was  tearing  through 
their  ranks;  unmindful  of  the  brave  fellows  falling  in  the 
bloody  track  they  made,  they  swept  on,  resistless  as  a 
Nemesis. 

"At  the  top  of  the  hill  the  rebels  try  to  make  a  stand  but 
they  are  shivered  like  a  glass  as  the  Nineteenth  strikes 
them.  They  hesitate,  they  stand  as  if  dumb  with  amaze 
ment  at  this  terrible  charge.  Their  ranks  waver,  they 
break  and  flee,  the  Nineteenth  closely  followed  by  the 
Eleventh  Michigan  and  Seventy-eighth  Pennsylvania,  pour 
ing  destruction  through  their  fugitive  ranks. Across  the 

open  fields  they  rush  to  the  protection  of  their  batteries  be 
yond,  but  the  march  of  the  Nineteenth  is  like  the  march  of 
Fate.  Regardless  of  the  fact  that  the  field  is  swept  by  the 
battery,  they  still  roll  back  the  rebel  foe,  vainly  trying  to 
seize  upon  every  ridge  and  clump  as  a  means  of  defense. 
Over  the  cornfields,  up  to  the  very  muzzles  of  the  guns  in 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  195 

spite  of  their  belching  fury  and  sheeted  flame,  over  the 
parapet,  and  the  battery  belongs  to  the  Nineteenth.  The 
Left  is  saved.  The  day  is  ours — the  victory  is  won,  and  thus 
the  Nineteenth  vindicated  its  good  name  and  made  one  of 
the  grandest  and  most  glorious  charges  of  the  war. 

The  Regiment  lost  in  killed  and  wounded  one  hundred 
and  twenty-four  out  of  three  hundred  and  forty  men.  Colo 
nel  Scott  was  seriously  wounded  in  the  passage  of  the  river, 
and  died  some  months  after  from  the  effects  of  the  wound." 

Such  is  the  story,  in  brief,  of  the  Nineteenth's  first  great 
battle,  and  if  there  are  many  more  bloodier  combats  on 
record,  or  if  there  is  one  where  better  fighting  qualities  by 
Union  soldiers  was  displayed,  we  know  it  not.  A  strange 
incident  of  the  closing  scenes  of  this  remarkable  combat  may 
now  be  recorded.  The  day  after  that  last  day's  fighting, 
soldiers  were  detailed  from  every  Union  regiment  to  go  out 
to  the  help  of  the  wounded  still  on  the  field  of  strife,  and  to 
give  the  dead  Christian  burial.  In  that  gruesome  task 
the  men  of  the  Nineteenth  came  on  the  badly  torn  corpse 
of  a  soldier  in  faded  blue.  They  decided  that  the  remains 
were  those  of  a  member  of  our  Regiment,  and  with  gentle 
hands  and  tender  thoughts  they  placed  that  body  under  a 
few  inches  of  southern  earth.  They  got  a  board  and  wrote 
on  it  the  initials  of  the  name  and  the  number  of  the  regiment 
of  this  dead  Union  soldier,  as  they  then  believed.  The  name 
thus  designated  was  none  other  than  that  of  the  present 
writer,  at  the  moment  on  his  way  to  Libby  Prison.  A 
month  or  so  later  a  letter  from  that  foul  pen  gave  the  roster 
of  the  Nineteenth  boys  then  at  Richmond,  and  when  his 
Comrades  in  D  Company  thus  learned  that  their  lamented 
Comrade  was  " alive  and  kicking"  there  was  great  rejoicing. 

Writing  from  Murfreesboro  January  14,  1863,  to  the 
Chicago  Evening  Journal,  Adjutant  Bangs  gave  a  corrected 


190  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

list  of  the  killed,  wounded  and  missing  of  our  Regiment  in 
the  Battle  of  Stone  River,  and  he  said : 

"  Colonel  Scott,  though  seriously  wounded,  will  recover. 
He  has  excellent  care  at  the  hands  of  his  mother,  who  has 
come  down  since  the  battle.  He  is  the  guest  of  Mr.  D.  D. 
Dickey,  of  Nashville.  Major  Guthrie's  wound  was  slight, 
and  has  not  incapacitated  him  for  duty.  The  balance  of  the 
officers  marked  'seriously'  or  'slightly  wounded/  have 
good  care  at  Hospital  No.  14,  Nashville.  Surgeon  Bogue 
did  excellent  service.  He  had  charge  of  a  hospital  which, 
on  the  31st,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy;  consequently 
he  had  to  attend  to  the  wants  of  the  wounded  of  both  armies. 
On  January  2d,  the  ground  was  regained  by  our  forces  and 
held.  Our  Chaplain,  Rev.  A.  H.  Conant,  was  with  him 
assisting  in  taking  care  of  the  wounded  on  the  31st.  When 
the  balls  were  flying  around  the  hospital  from  both  sides, 
he  took  a  red  flag,  walked  over  to  the  enemy's  lines  and 
politely  informed  them  of  the  fact  of  that  house  being  used  as 
a  hospital,  and  requested  them  to  shoot  either  one  side  or  the 
other,  as  the  inmates  were  probably  badly  enough  wounded 
already.  Assistant  Surgeon  Bailhache,  although  detailed 
in  charge  of  a  hospital  in  Nashville,  left  that  post  and  hurried 
to  the  scene  of  action  to  attend  to  the  wants  of  the  boys  of 
the  Nineteenth.  Too  much  praise  cannot  be  given  to  our 
Acting  Quartermaster,  Lieut.  Alvah  Mansur.  By  his  pre 
caution  in  supplying  himself  with  rations  before  the  battle, 
our  boys  had  plenty  of  hard  bread,  meat  and  coffee,  while 
in  many  instances  other  regiments  subsisted  on  nothing  but 
roasted  corn.  It  is  not  necessary  to  speak  of  the  bravery  of 
any  officer  or  man  of  the  Nineteenth.  Enough  to  say  the 
men  fought  bravely,  and  the  officers  were  at  their  posts, 
leading,  not  following  their  different,  commands." 

Wounded — Col.  Jos.  R.  Scott,  thigh;  Maj.  James  V. 
Guthrie,  face. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  197 

Co.  A — Killed — Corp.  Ira  A.  Pease;  Privates  Devillo 
L.  Holmes,  Thos.  A.  Moore.  Wounded — Sergts.  W.  H. 
Wildey,  arm;  R.  G.  Sylvester,  head;  Corp.  Chas.  Kerr, 
leg;  Privates  R.  P.  Blanchard,  side;  J.  H.  Edgell,  leg; 
M.  C.  Kennedy,  leg;  Joseph  L.  Slagle,  side;  Chas.  H. 
Tuthill,  hand;  Geo.  Uttz,  abdomen,  died  Jan.  2;  Saml. 
Worden,  shoulder.  Missing — Christopher  A.  Mulvey, 
since  Dec.  31. 

Co.  B — Killed — Corp.  Geo.  Ryerson;  Privates  Isaac 
L.  Kenyon,  Chas.  M.  Leason,  J.  O.  Imes.  Wounded— 
Capt.  A.  Murchison,  back;  Lieut,  John  H.  Hunter,  thigh; 
Sergt.  Thos.  Robison,  shoulder;  Corp.  H.  B.  Worth,  finger; 
Privates  Geo.  Dugan,  thumb;  Thos.  Turnbull,  thumb; 
Geo.  T.  Sharrer,  thigh;  J.  W.  Oziah,  lip;  Columbus  Morgan, 
abdomen,  died  Jan.  7;  M.  Douglas,  foot;  J.  M.  Deacox, 
arm;  Walton  Craig,  leg.  Missing — Corp.  J.  L.  Kennedy, 
since  Dec.  31. 

Co.  C — Killed — Corp.  Henry  Sweezy.  Wounded— 
Lieut.  Washington  L.  Wood,  hand;  Corp.  Delavan  Craft, 
leg;  Privates  John  Ives,  hand;  Webster  Daniels,  hand; 
Peter  Boskourt,  arm;  Chas.  Idair,  neck;  William  M.  Battis, 
leg;  Frank  Seguin,  arm  and  side;  Edward  McCabe,  leg. 

Co.  D — Killed^-Coip.  Robert  McCracken.  Wounded— 
Sergt.  James  Goldsmith,  side,  died  January  1st;  Corp.  H. 
Clay  Daggy,  hip;  Corp.  W.  B.  Taylor,  leg;  Privates  John 
Tanzy,  back,  and  taken  prisoner;  Thos.  Willard,  leg;  Henry 
E.  Carter,  leg;  Jacob  Balls,  breast;  Joseph  Smith,  head; 
Saml.  Maddin,  shoulder.  Missing — Jas.  H.  Haynie,  since 
December  31;  Murray  W.  Smith,  since  December  31. 

Co.  E — Killed — None.  Wounded — Corp.  Joseph  C. 
Huntington,  hand;  Privates  John  E.  A.  Stevens,  mortally; 
David  Me  Arthur,  face;  John  Hays,  hip;  John  C.  P.  Noble, 
mortally,  died  Jan.  6th;  Thos.  C.  Welsh,  hip;  Thos.  King, 


198  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

thigh;  George  Joel,  mortally.       Missing — Corp.  Peter  F 
Guthrie,  since  Dec.  31. 

Co.  H — Killed — Jesse  Maxwell.  Wounded — Capt.  Gar- 
riott,  leg;  Lieut.  Wood,  bowels,  died  Jan.  5;  Sergt.  Volney 
C.  Johnson,  leg,  and  taken  prisoner;  Corp.  Sumner  Har 
rington,  side;  Corp.  Wm.  Haggarty,  arm,  and  taken  prisoner; 
Corp.  L.  B.  Thomas,  knee;  Corp.  John  H.  Snyder,  thigh; 
Privates,  Henry  E.  Wells,  arm;  Geo.  F.  Fleming,  arm,  and 
taken  prisoner;  Geo.  B.  Sickles,  shoulder;  Jas.  W.  Carson, 
wrist,  and  taken  prisoner;  John  Benham,  ankle  and  taken 
prisoner;  Jas.  F.  Coleman,  eye,  and  taken  prisoner;  Josiah 
Suter,  leg;  M.  Stoughton,  thigh;  Chas.  G.  Bates,  wrist. 
Missing — Geo.  Kearns,  since  December  31. 

Co.  I — Killed — John  Tritteau.  Wounded — Henry  Harms, 
back;  Frank  Hogan,  shoulder;  Richard  Dohring,  arm; 
Joseph  Matt,  leg.  Missing — Lyman  M.  Jones,  since  Dec. 
31st. 

Co.  K— Killed— Sergt.  Daniel  W.  Griffin.  Wounded- 
Lieut.  V.  B.  Bell,  head;  Sergt.  S.  H.  Scadden,  leg;  Corp. 
Frank  Russel,  head;  privates  J.  C.  Fullerton,  mortally, 
died  Jan.  3;  E.  Bullen,  side;  P.  Smith,  mouth;  R.  Peirrelott, 
thigh.  Missing — Jas.  Dwyer  and  Thomas  Johnson,  since 
December  31st. 

ADJUTANT  BANGS  STORY  OF  THE  BATTLE  OF  STONE  RIVER. 

I  will  begin  this  account  of  our  First  Fight*  with  the  move 
ment  of  General  Rosecrans'  Army  from  Nashville  during  the 
last  week  of  December,  1862.  We  had  been  having  a  long 
resting  spell  there,  and  in  the  meantime  Rosecrans,  appointed 
to  command  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  the  previous 
October,  was  maturing  his  plans  for  a  grand  forward  move- 

*Our  good  Comrade's  claim  that  this  was  the  Regiment's  first  fight  is  er 
roneous,  as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  main  text.  But  it  certainly  was  our  first 
great  battle. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  199 

ment.  Murfreesboro*  must  be  taken  at  all  hazards,  and, 
in  the  event  of  success  there,  Tullahoma  and  Shelbyville 
would  soon  be  within  our  lines,  thus  removing  all  barriers  to 
the  ultimate  capture  of  that  important  key,  Chattanooga. 
Our  command  left  Nashville  about  five  o'clock  A.  M.  Decem 
ber  26,  and  marched  along  the  Franklin  Pike  until  we  reached 
Russell  Pike;  had  proceeded  about  seven  miles,  when  we 
took  a  cross  road  with  the  intention  of  striking  the  Nolens- 
ville  Pike. 

Before  reaching  Nolens ville  we  heard  the  roar  of  cannon, 
the  first  time  many  of  us  had  heard  it  in  battle,  and  shortly 
after  we  saw  the  flash  and  smoke  of  the  enemy's  guns,  still 
a  long  way  off,  evidently  disputing  the  advance  of  our 
cavalry.  This  firing,  it  appears,  was  from  a  detachment 
which  was  objecting  to  McCook's  entrance  into  Nolensville. 

We  soon  struck  the  Pike,  and  the  divers  expressions  of 
delight  at  again  finding  good  Macadam  under  our  feet  can 
be  readily  imagined.  On  reaching  Nolensville,  we  marched 
through  the  town,  then  went  into  camp  about  a  mile  south  of 
it,  knowing  well  that  we  were  now  in  the  midst  of  the  enemy, 
with  their  cavalry  about  us,  bound  to  try  in  every  way 
possible  to  retard  our  advance,  so  as  to  give  Bragg  an  oppor 
tunity  to  concentrate  his  forces.  Because  of  the  poor  roads, 
the  wagons  failed  to  show  up,  and  as  the  boys  were  without 
knapsacks,  it  is  easy  to  see  the  kind  of  time  we  had  in  pitching 
camp  after  a  fatiguing  day's  march  through  a  pouring  rain. 
Next  day  we  were  marched  back  to  the  town.  Meanwhile 
the  wagons  had  arrived,  but  before  anybody  could  claim  his 
own  an  order  came  to  "reduce  baggage!"  This  meant  to 
throw  out  everything  in  the  shape  or  boxes,  mess  chests, 
extra  clothing,  etc.,  and  all  tents  except  one  Sibley  for  each 
company,  and  one  small  tent  to  a  company  for  its  officers. 

*During  the  previous  autumn  and  early  winter,  the  Confederates  had  been  fixing 
themselves  snugly  in  and  about  Murfreesboro,  firm  in  the  belief  that  the  Union  forces 
would  not  move  before  spring,  but  "Old  Rosey"  thought  differently. 


200  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

The  Field  and  Staff  were  to  get  on  with  a  large  tent,  while 
a  small  one  was  provided  for  the  Adjutant. 

Quartermaster  Sergt.  Downs  and  I  were  left  behind  to 
superintend  the  work  of  removal;  we  had  the  surplus  car 
ried  into  a  house,  and  a  guard  was  placed  in  charge  thereof. 
It  was  raining  hard  all  this  time,  but  we  finally  got  the  wagons 
started  for  the  new  camp.  The  Regiment  had  taken  a  cross 
road  to  reach  the  Murfreesboro  Pike;  we  certainly  saw 
worse  roads  afterward,  but  at  that  time  we  thought  we  had 
" struck  the  limit!"  It  finally  cleared  off,  however,  and  the 
moon  shone  brightly;  on  either  side  and  toward  the  front 
we  could  hear  the  rumblings  of  big  guns,  with  an  occasional 
sharp  rattle  of  musketry,  which  reminded  us  forcibly  that 
"the  cruel  war"  was  on.  As  Downs  and  I  rode  along,  our 
escort  close  at  hand,  we  felt  well,  indulged  in  a  few  songs,  an 
occasional  heart  to  heart  talk  of  old  times,  and  meanwhile 
enjoying  that  great  solace  of  the  soldier  of  every  country, 
a  pipe  and  tobacco.  Danger  lurked  on  all  sides;  the  rum 
bling  guns  told  us  that  every  step  of  the  way  was  being  con 
tested;  we  were  experiencing  the  first  taste  of  real  war. 
Our  senses  were  alert;  we  would  have  been  surprised  at 
nothing,  yet  for  all  that,  I  can  only  look  back  on  that  night's 
ride  as  a  pleasure  never  to  be  forgotten. 

Late  on  the  twenty-seventh  the  Regiment  camped 
within  half  a  mile  of  the  Murfreesboro  Pike,  in  the  timber, 
but  only  two  wagons  succeeded  in  getting  through  that  last 
muddy  road.  Having  plenty  of  wood,  we  built  good  fires, 
made  " feather  beds"  of  cedar  boughs,  and  " slept  soundly 
within  sound  of  the  enemy's  guns. "  Next  day  we  remained 
in  that  timber  camp,  and  one  by  one  the  wagons  came 
straggling  in,  the  drivers  " saying  things"  as  to  the  roads 
and  everybody  pretty  well  tired  out.  Here  it  was  learned 
that  the  order  to  "reduce  baggage"  was  somebody's  blunder, 
and  though  the  teams  were  almost  completely  exhausted, 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  201 

they  were  sent  back,  with  Downs  in  charge,  for  the  tents  and 
other  things  at  Nolensville.  That  evening  Major  Guthrie 
and  I  took  a  ride  to  the  front.  We  saw  the  Confederate 
pickets  a  little  way  down  the  road;  our  own  pickets  were 
only  a  few  yards  in  front  of  us;  as  they  were  firing  at  one 
another,  and  as  we  could  hear  the  bullets  breaking  through 
the  branches  over  our  heads  we  soon  concluded  that  it  was 
not  absolutely  necessary  for  us  to  remain  just  there,  and  so 
we  rode  back  again. 

The  morning  of  December  29,  our  Division  was  ordered 
on  a  reconnaissance  to  the  right;  we  struck  off  diagonally, 
and  in  less  than  an  hour  we  ran  into  the  enemy  in  the  shape 
of  a  battalion  of  cavalry.  A  battery  opened  on  them,  and 
for  a  short  while  things  were  very  exciting.  Whenever  a 
shell  burst  among  the  Confederates,  we  could  see  the  men 
and  horses  fall  to  the  right  and  left,  while  those  near  would 
scatter,  then  rally  quickly  to  their  places  and  fill  the  gaps 
thus  made.  In  our  cooler  moments  we  might  shudder  at 
the  thought  of  human  beings  being  thus  struck  down,  but 
now  we  were  exulting  over  seeing  men  fall,  their  ranks  dis 
organized,  their  advance  checked  by  death.  But  such  is 
war.  We  shot  to  kill;  and  no  one  thought  for  a  moment 
of  raising  his  musket  so  that  the  bullet  might  pass  harmlessly 
over  the  opposing  foe.  That  night  we  went  into  camp 
again,  this  time  directly  in  front  of  the  Confederates,  they 
being  lined  up  in  front  of  Mursfreesboro.  We  slept  in  the 
mud  and  rain ;  our  teams  were  we  knew  not  where ;  and  if 
they  had  been  within  a  few  hundred  yards,  they  would  have 
been  of  no  use,  as  we  could  not  have  left  our  advanced 
position.  The  boys  were  minus  tents  or  blankets,  and 
without  the  privilege  of  making  coffee,  as  no  fires  were 
allowed.  Now  an  American  volunteer  soldier  will  stand  al 
most  any  necessary  thing  in  the  line  of  hard  service,  given 
a  reasonable  cause,  but  deprive  him  of  his  coffee,  and  he  is 


202  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

apt  to  use  language!  and  no  doubt  some  of  the  Nineteenth 
did  on  this  occasion. 

During  our  advance  on  the  fore  part  of  that  day  an  inci 
dent  occurred  that  is  worth  mentioning.  At  a  small  clear 
ing  there  was  a  little  log  house,  the  home  of  a  young  couple 
probably  just  starting  out  in  life;  there  were  the  beginnings 
of  a  garden,  some  cribs  and  pens,  a  few  chickens,  and  a  pig; 
but  the  family  had  departed  in  a  hurry,  leaving  everything 
behind  them.  Inside  the  cabin,  the  bed  was  nicely  made  up ; 
articles  of  clothing  were  hanging  here  and  there  on  the  walls ; 
the  one  room  was  as  spick  and  span  as  could  be.  I  might 
have  made  use  of  a  blanket  that  night,  and  with  it  slept 
more  comfortably,  still  I  could  not  bear  to  touch  a  single 
thing  in  that  neat  little  home.  Yet  it  was  a  dead  certainty 
that  when  the  main  body  of  troops  came  along,  not  a  scrap 
in  that  cabin  which  might  be  worn  or  used  in  any  way  would 
be  left.  We  of  the  Nineteenth  had  not  yet  made  up  our 
minds  to  "subsist  on  the  enemy." 

December  30,  1862,  was  a  momentous  and  never  to 
be  forgotten  day  to  the  Nineteenth  Illinois.  Our  Division 
had  been  ordered  to  the  front,  and  soon  the  Battle  of  Stone 
River  was  on,  although  as  yet  only  in  a  small  way.  The 
Regiment  was  deployed  as  skirmishers  for  the  Brigade,  and 
it  advanced  until  it  struck  the  enemy,  when  a  sharp  fire  was 
opened  on  both  sides,  which  was  decidedly  spirited.  I  wish 
to  say  right  here  that  no  body  of  experienced  veterans 
could  have  exceeded  the  members  of  our  Regiment  for  cool 
and  deliberate  attention  to  the  business  before  them.  We 
took  advantage  of  trees  and  of  all  obstructions,  as  skirmishers 
should  ever  do,  but  there  was  no  scrambling,  no  hurrying, 
no  excitement.  Lines  were  maintained  as  closely  as  possible; 
and,  let  me  say  here,  the  admirable  courage  and  common 
sense  displayed  by  our  Officers,  and  particularly  by  Colonel 
Scott,  were  incentives  to  bring  out  the  best  there  was  in  us. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  203 

It  was  the  first  time  I  was  under  fire;  I  didn't  know  whether 
to  be  afraid  or  not;  and  indeed  there  was  not  much  time  to 
think  about  that  sort  of  thing,  as  Colonel  Scott  was  going 
here  and  there,  and  I  was  putting  in  most  of  my  time  on  the 
double-quick!  But  of  one  thing  I  am  sure,  bullets  were 
soon  whistling  around  my  head  in  fine  style.  Compara 
tively  few  of  the  boys  were  hit,  and  I  often  wonder  how  that 
could  possibly  be,  as  the  leaden  messengers  were  buzzing 
around  our  heads  like  swarming  bees.  We  knew  the  bul 
lets  were  thick,  and  we  heard  them  on  all  sides;  the  old 
estimate  that  for  every  soldier  killed  in  battle  his  weight  in 
lead  has  been  shot  away,  is  indeed  a  true  one.  A  bullet 
makes  a  peculiar  noise  as  it  goes  whizzing  by;  frequently, 
one  involuntarily  dodges  it  —  the  action  can't  be  helped. 
The  thought  of  saving  one's-self  is  very  quick  in  its  action 
but  the  bullet  that  is  coming  is  too  swift  in  flight  to  dodge. 

That  night  we  slept  on  the  field  of  strife,  well  to  the  front, 
however,  but  the  day  was  rather  against  than  for  us,  al 
though  our  position  had  been  maintained.  We  had  surely 
received  our  baptism  of  fire  all  right,  and  as  becomes  brave 
men.  Many  of  the  boys  were  laid  low;  we  were  assembled 
on  the  Colors;  our  beds  were  on  the  hard  ground,  well 
aligned,  and  we  had  plenty  of  time  to  think  over  the  events 
of  that  day  and  to  realize  that  the  morrow  would  perhaps 
be  one  of  still  fiercer  fighting.  My  mind  again  reverted 
to  the  admirable  coolness  of  our  Officers;  every  one  was  as 
clear-headed  as  though  on  parade;  every  one  was  in  his 
place,  ready,  willing,  prepared,  and  all  received  Scott's 
orders  as  he  gave  them,  with  coolness  and  deliberation. 

The  ball  was  reopened  on  the  morning  of  the  thirty-first 
of  December  by  the  artillery  of  our  Division,  and  from  the 
word  go  it  was  hot  every  minute  of  the  time.  The  first 
task  of  the  day  was  to  regain  the  ground  lost  by  McCook. 
Rousseau  and  VanCleve  were  sent  over  to  the  right,  and 


204  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

after  several  hours  of  severe  fighting,  in  which  our  Division 
took  active  part,  a  new  position  was  established  and  main 
tained.  But  the  hardest  fighting  for  our  Division  fell  upon 
it  that  afternoon.  The  Rebels  had  placed  guns  near  an  old 
brick-kiln,  and  were  doing  deadly  work,  for  we  were  exposed 
to  a  flank  fire  on  the  right,  whence  McCook  had  fled.  Our 
left  flank  became  exposed,  our  right  was  wide  open,  and  we 
were  obliged  to  fall  back,  as  we  did  in  perfect  order,  however. 
We  assisted  in  caring  for  the  wounded;  none  was  left  on 
that  part  of  the  field  passed  over  by  the  Nineteenth.  Four 
of  us  carried  a  soldier  from  another  regiment;  he  thought 
he  was  not  badly  hurt,  but  begged  like  a  good  fellow  not  to 
be  left  on  the  field,  fearing  he  would  fall  into  the  hands  of 
the  enemy.  He  wanted  me  to  examine  his  wound;  a  small 
blue  spot  near  the  heart,  from  which  no  blood  had  flowed. 
I  could  not  but  feel  that  he  was  badly  wounded,  but  did  not 
tell  him  so.  We  laid  him  down  in  a  comfortable  place, 
entirely  out  of  harm's  way,  and  were  obliged  to  leave  him 
there. 

The  fire  we  sustained  on  that  advanced  position  was 
terrible;  all  the  cannon  in  front  seemed  to  be  determined 
to  make  things  as  uncomfortable  and  dangerous  for  us  as 
possible.  It  was  almost  point  blank  range,  so  they  had  it 
"down  to  a  nicety"  for  the  Regiment.  A  shell  burst  in  the 
ranks,  killing  one  man  in  Company  B  and  another  in  Com 
pany  C.  A  solid  shot  cut  down  a  large  tree  and  several  men, 
including  one  in  Company  D,  were  badly  injured.  The 
order  to  retire  reached  us  none  too  soon .  So  the  Nineteenth 
fell  back,  but  presently,  when  we  came  within  sight  of  the 
main  support,  we  made  another  stand,  where  some  rocks 
had  been  piled  up,  and  here  we  held  the  foe  in  check  until 
the  whole  Division  had  secured  safer  ground.  But  the  Con 
federates  discovered  this  backward  movement,  and  came 
rushing  ahead,  foolishly  supposing  us  to  be  in  full  retreat. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  205 

The  losses  on  both  sides  were  heavy,  and  many  a  poor  fellow 
was  seriously  wounded,  Lieutenant  Bell,  Lieutenant  Hunter, 
and  Captain  Garriott  among  the  number.  We  were  now  under 
the  protection  of  the  whole  Fourteenth  Corps,  arid  the  Rebels 
could  follow  us  no  farther.  That  night  we  bivouacked  in 
comparative  safety,  the  railroad  enbankment  affording  us 
good  breastworks.  It  was  practically  the  last  of  the  hard 
fighting  on  the  thirty-first,  though  we  could  hear  the  rumble 
of  big  guns  long  after  we  had  gone  to  rest.  Our  loss  in  these 
two  days  was  eight  killed,  fifty-two  wounded,  and  eighteen 
missing,  a  total  of  seventy-eight.  Compared  with  losses  in 
some  other  regiments  this  was  small;  but  when  we  think 
of  our  advanced  and  exposed  position,  at  short  range,  it 
seems  almost  miraculous  that  it  was  so  slight. 

On  New  Year's  Day,  1863,  our  Division  was  not  engaged, 
although  it  could  not  be  called  a  day  of  rest  for  us.  There 
was  fighting  over  on  the  Right,  and  McCook,  with  the  aid 
of  other  troops,  succeeded  in  regaining  some  of  his  lost 
ground,  and  held  his  new  position.  But  the  attack  on 
McCook  was  merely  a  feint,  as  was  soon  shown.  That 
night  General  Bragg  was  moving  the  bulk  of  his  army  to 
his  Right,  hoping  to  crush  our  Left,  where  General  Crit- 
tenden  was  in  command.  Bragg  believed  he  had  the  best  of 
us,  and  he  probably  had  some  reason  for  thinking  so.  Very 
little  fighting  was  indulged  in  that  day,  however,  and  the 
troops  on  both  sides  retired  to  rest  at  an  early  hour.  Next 
morning  Negley's  Division  was  moved  to  the  Left  until  we 
came  in  touch  with  General  VanCleve.  The  Regiment's 
orders  were  to  support  the  artillery,  and  as  soon  as  we  were 
in  position,  just  behind  a  rise  of  ground  that  concealed  us 
from  the  enemy,  and  close  to  the  river,  I  had  leisure  to  run 
to  the  top  of  the  hill  and  take  in  the  situation.  A  little 
to  our  right,  on  a  beautiful  piece  of  ground,  fifty-two  pieces 
of  artillery  had  been  parked,  ready  now  and  waiting  for  the 


206  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

foe's  advance.  General  Breckenridge,  having  been  largely 
reinforced,  was  massing  his  whole  command,  with  the  in 
tention  of  breaking  Rosecrans'  Left.  The  Confederates 
were  under  cover  of  heavy  timber,  and  we  could  see  prac 
tically  nothing;  but  "Old  Rosey"  evidently  knew  of  the 
move,  and  was  preparing  to  give  them  a  warm  reception. 
Well,  they  got  it! 

About  three  o'clock  the  Rebels  moved  out — they  did 
present  a  formidable  appearance  and  no  mistake.  How 
ever,  they  had  hardly  shown  their  colors  when  the  park  of 
artillery  just  mentioned  opened  fire  on  them.  Colonel 
Van  Schroeder,  Chief  of  Artillery,  was  there,  and  it  almost 
seems  as  though  he  personally  sighted  every  gun,  so  deadly 
was  the  fire.  Talk  about  the  horrors  of  war;  the  Confed 
erates  were  advancing  a  solid  mass;  and  those  fifty-two 
cannon  were  being  fired  into  them  as  swiftly  as  efficient 
soldiers  could  swab  out  and  reload.  The  continued  roaring 
of  the  guns  was  like  the  volleying  of  infantry.  It  was  the 
most  magnificent  battle  scene  I  ever  saw.  The  Confed 
erates  kept  advancing,  and  while  their  attack  seemed  only 
half-hearted,  it  looked  as  though  our  Left  would  have  to  give 
way.  Then  General  Rosecrans  came  riding  along;  asking 
for  Palmer's  Division  and  gaining  no  reply,  he  called  out: 
"Who'll  save  our  Left?"  Colonel  Scott  stepped  quickly 
forward  and  said:  "Here  is  Negley's  Division;  we'll  save 
the  Left!"  The  order  was  given,  and  we  did  save  the  Left. 
We  advanced  quickly  and  in  perfect  order;  the  Nineteenth 
Illinois  led  the  way  and  was  first  to  cross  the  river.  The 
fighting  which  followed  was  terrible;  indeed  in  many  parts 
of  the  field  it  was  a  hand-to-hand  engagement.  The  struggle 
was  bitter,  but  of  short  duration.  One  account  of  the  combat 
says  that  after  the  charge  of  Negley's  Division,  the  fighting 
only  lasted  half  an  hour,  but  I  was  there,  and  I  know  it 
continued  at  least  an  hour,  if  not  longer.  The  enemy  fought 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  207 

like  tigers,  but  finally  gave  way,  leaving  everything  behind 
them — cannon,  accoutrements  of  all  kinds,  small  arms, 
together  with  their  wounded  and  dying. 

On  the  final  charge  the  Nineteenth  Illinois  captured  four 
pieces  of  artillery  belonging  to  the  celebrated  Washington 
Battery  of  New  Orleans.       The  survivors  of  that  Battery 
have  since  made  the  boast  that  it  never  lost  a  gun  until  the 
Battle  of  Chancellorsville;    nevertheless,  I  believe  we  took 
four  of  their  guns  at  Stone  River.      When  I  arrived  at  the 
place  where  those  brave  artillerymen  made  their  last  stand, 
and  I  was  among  the  first,  their  dead  and  wounded  were 
lying  around,  some  of  them  in  horrible  condition.     I  asked 
one  poor  fellow  the  name  of  the  Battery,  and  he  told  me 
distinctly  it  was  the  Washington.       We  knew  that   that 
Battery  was  in  Bragg's  command,  and  were  elated  over  the 
fact  that  we  were  the  first  to  wheel  its  captured  guns  to  the 
rear.       If  I  am  not  mistaken,  we  also  captured  two  Con 
federate  flags.      In  passing  over  the  field,  I  came  upon  two 
soldiers  lying  as  close  as  they  could  to  a  big  log;  one  of  them 
was  badly  wounded,  but  the  other  was  all  right.      As  soon 
as  I  came  within  hailing  distance  the  uninjured  one  called 
to  me,  begging  permission  to  go  with  his  brother  and  take 
care  of  him.     I  never  heard  a  more  pitiful  plea  in  all  my  life ; 
he  didn't  care  where  he  himself  was  taken,  or  what  might 
happen  to  him,  if  he  were  only  allowed  to  care  for  his  wound 
ed  brother.    He  said  they  had  no  desire  to  go  back  into  the 
Rebel  ranks;    that  they  had  been  forced  to  join  the  Con 
federate  Army,  and  that  they  had  avoided  taking  a  fighting 
part  in  every  way.     They  looked  like  well-to-do  Southerners 
f  the  better  class,  conversing  intelligently.      The  one  that 
did  most  of  the  talking  declared  their  sympathies  were  not 
with  the  South,  but  that  they  had  been  pressed  into  the 
service  and  were  now  making  the  best  of  it.     I  believe  they 
told  the  truth.      When  the  ambulance  corps  came  around 


208  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

they  were  probably  carried  to  the  rear,  but  there  is  no  know 
ing  whether  they  were  permitted  to  remain  together  or  not. 
At  this  point  I  ran  across  Downs,  and  we  went  over 
some  parts  of  the  field  together.  The  Rebel  wounded  could 
not  be  cared  for  at  once,  as  our  own  casualties  were  heavy, 
and  the  surgeons  were  all  busy.  That  night  the  Confed 
erates  left  seventeen  hundred  killed  and  wounded  on  the 
field.  It  was  claimed  that  our  loss  was  as  heavy,  but  I  do 
not  believe  it.  The  Regiment's  loss  on  this,  the  last  day's 
engagement,  was  comparatively  small;  seven  were  killed, 
and  thirty-two  wounded.  Captain  Chandler  of  Company 
F  was  shot  dead;  Lieutenant  Wood  of  Company  H  re 
ceived  wounds  of  which  he  died  on  the  fifth;  Lafey  Wood 
of  Company  C,  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  right  hand; 
Major  Guthrie  had  a  slight  wound  in  the  face;  Colonel 
Joe  Scott  received  a  severe  wound  from  which  he  never 
recovered.  Many  of  our  boys  were  scattered  over  the 
battlefield,  giving  water  to  the  wounded.  The  sights  we 
saw  were  never  to  be  forgotten;  I  do  not  care  to  try  and 
describe  them.  I  gave  my  water  canteen  to  one  of  the 
Washington  Battery  boys.  The  Confederates  had  retreated 
through  heavy  timber,  and  as  it  was  almost  dark  our  scat 
tered  troops  were  called  back,  not  knowing  what  kind  of  an 
ambush  we  might  run  up  against. 

We  remained  in  camp  all  day  the  third  of  January;  it 
was  rainy  and  disagreeable,  and  we  were  well  pleased  to  be 
.  "  let  alone. "  Towards  evening  of  the  fourth  we  were  moved 
to  the  front,  and  the  Regiment  was  sent  out  on  picket  duty. 
That  night  headquarters  had  the  good  luck  to  have  a  roof 
over  our  heads,  and  we  were  able  to  sleep  dry,  above  and 
underneath,  feeling  reasonably  certain,  meanwhile  that  the 
morrow  would  not  open  with  heavy  cannonading  at  the 
front.  We  all  remember  the  restful  days  after  Stone  River 


2  n 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  209 

Battle.  We  were  obliged  to  wait  for  our  wagons,  contain 
ing  provisions,  tents,  and  possibly  mail  from  the  North 
which  had  difficulty  in  finding  us.  We  talked  again  and 
again  of  the  incidents,  both  great  and  small,  of  the  four- 
days'  fighting;  we  thought  of  our  wounded  Colonel,  and 
wondered  if  he  would  ever  be  with  us  again ;  and  we  thought 
of  our  comrades  of  all  ranks,  dead,  wounded,  and  missing 
now,  but  were  brave  when  the  trying  moments  were  on  them 
and  us;  men  who  had  stood  up,  facing  the  foe  in  mortal 
strife,  who  were  worthy  of  the  regiment  to  which  we  all  be 
longed — the  Nineteenth  Illinois  Infantry. 

LESLIE  G.  BANGS, 
First  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant 
Nineteenth  Illinois  Infantry. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

PAGE 

CHATTANOOGA  CAMPAIGN ...  213 

MOVEMENTS  OF  THE  REGIMENT — BY  LIEUT.   JOHN 

YOUNG 214 

BATTLE  AT  BAILEY'S  CROSSROADS  .    .               215 

BATTLE  OF  CHICKAMAUGA 217 

OCCUPATION  OF  CHATTANOOGA                                         .  218 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  213 


CHAPTER  VI. 

After  the  Battle  of  Stone  River  General  Rosecrans  kept 
his  army  in  and  around  Murfreesboro  until  June  24,  1863,  a 
period  of  six  months,  when  he  moved  it  on  the  enemy.  Gen 
eral  Bragg  was  known  to  be  at  Tullahoma,  and  as  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland  advanced  he  fell  back  until  he  reached 
Chattanooga.  Now,  strategetically  considered,  there  was  no 
point  in  the  Middle  South  so  important  to  either  side  as  that 
city.  It  was,  therefore,  necessary  for  "Old  Rosey"  to 
capture  it ;  Halleck  might  have  easily  done  so  after  the  Battle 
of  Shiloh  had  he  been  a  greater  general.  Beauregard  only 
had  50,000  men  with  him  to  oppose  Halleck's  90,000,  al 
though  there  were  12,000  more  confederates  with  Kirby 
Smith  at  Knoxville,  9,000  of  them  with  George  Morgan  at 
Cumberland  Gap,  and  about  2,000  at  Chattanooga,  watched, 
however,  from  Hunts ville  by  General  0.  M.  Mitchel,  as 
already  indicated.  It  can  be  safely  asserted  that  the  Nine 
teenth  Illinois  had  as  much  to  do  with  the  war  history  of 
that  city  as  any  regiment  in  the  Union  service,  and  our  doings 
there,  or  thereabouts,  may  be  divided  into  five  stories: 
First,  the  rush  of  the  Regiment  on  that  place,  under  Negley, 
as  related  in  the  previous  chapter;  second,  our  approach 
to  it  this  time,  with  Thomas  and  Rosecrans;  third,  being 
besieged  there  following  the  Battle  of  Chickamauga;  fourth, 
our  sojourn  in  it  after  the  incomparable  affair  of  Missionary 
Ridge;  and  fifth,  our  departure  thence  on  the  Atlanta  Cam 
paign  with  Sherman. 

It  was  believed  that  the  side  which  had  possession  of 
Chattanooga  could  hold  the  place  against  a  force  out- 


214  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

numbering  its  garrison  many  times,  and  this  surmise  was 
made  a  fact  when  the  Union  Army  took  possession  of  it  in 
September,  1863.  General  Bragg,  an  exceedingly  capable 
strategist  and  hard  fighter,  occupied  Chattanooga,  Tenn., 
the  importance  of  which  had  been  indicated,  and  it  was 
necessary  for  Rosecrans  to  dispossess  him  of  that  place. 
To  have  hurled  his  army  against  the  city  would  have  been 
•madness,  if  not  suicidal  folly,  however;  in  such  an  assault 
we  would  probably  have  lost  ten  men  for  every  one  of  the 
enemy;  therefore  it  was  obligatory  on  "Old  Rosey"  to 
resort  to  strategy  to  secure  Chattanooga.  As  the  late 
George  Cary  Eggleston  says  in  his  fine  book,  "The  History 
of  the  Confederate  War"  in  order  to  do  so  Rosecrans  pushed 
a  part  of  his  army  southward,  threatening  an  invasion  of 
Georgia.  'That  State  was  defenceless  except  in  so  far  as 
Bragg's  army  defended  it,  therefore  Rosecrans'  movement 
compelled  him  to  withdraw  from  his  strong  position  in  order 
to  head  off  what  he  supposed  to  be  a  southward  movement. " 
But  before  taking  up  this  direct  attack  on  Bragg' s  army 
we  must  give  more  detailed  account  of  the  doings  of  the 
Nineteenth  Illinois  after  quitting  Murfreesboro ;  and  Lieu 
tenant  Comrade  John  Young  has  furnished  us  with  this  im 
portant  information.  "I  have  before  me,"  he  writes,  "the 
Monthly  Returns  of  the  Regiment  for  August  and  September, 
1863.  The  September  return  gives  in  detail  the  movements 
of  the  Nineteenth  from  the  date  of  our  breaking  Camp  at 
Cave  Springs,  Alabama,  on  the  first  of  that  month,  up  to  the 
occupation  of  Chattanooga  after  the  Battle  of  Chickamauga. 
The  return  for  August,  dated  September  1,  gives  the  number 
present  for  duty  on  that  date  as :  Commissioned  Officers,  21 ; 
enlisted  men,  317;  total,  338.  During  the  subsequent 
eighteen  days  preceding  that  great  battle,  we  had  crossed 
the  Tennessee  River — had  been  on  the  march  continuously, 
crossing  three  mountain  ranges,  our  artillery  and  wagon 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  215 

trains  being  frequently  hauled  up  the  steep  heights  by  hand. 
On  September  9,  during  a  reconnaissance,  we  skirmished 
with  the  enemy  for  several  hours,  and  on  the  eleventh,  at 
Davis'  Cross  Roads,  we  had  a  sharp  engagement  lasting 
until  dark.  With  no  accessions  to  our  ranks,  and  allowing 
for  the  losses  sustained  in  previous  actions,  as  well  as  for  those 
who  gave  out  during  the  severe  marching,  it  is  fair  to  assume 
that  we  did  not  number  to  exceed  300,  rank  and  file,  on  the 
first  day  of  the  great  battle  at  Chickamauga. " 

The  movements  of  the  Regiment  thus  referred  to  were 
as  follows:  September  1,  broke  camp  at  Cave  Spring, 
Alabama,  at  5:30  o'clock  P.  M.;  crossed  the  Tennessee 
River  at  Caperton's  Ferry,  and  bivouacked  four  miles  south 
of  the  river  at  11  P.  M.,  having  marched  eight  miles.  Sep 
tember  2,  moved  at  7:45  A.  M.;  marched  twelve  miles  and 
bivouacked  nearly  opposite  Bridgeport,  Alabama,  at  the 
foot  of  Raccoon  Mountain  about  4  P.  M.  September  3, 
moved  at  8:45  A.  M.  to  the  side  of  the  mountain  where  the 
Regiment  was  deployed  to  assist  the  wagon  train  of  our 
Division  (Negley's)  to  ascend,  until  3  P.  M.  when  we  moved 
to  the  top,  where  we  bivouacked.  September  4,  marched  at 
8  A.  M.,  crossed  the  Raccoon  Mountain,  arrived  within 
about  two  and  a  half  miles  of  Trenton,  Georgia,  pitched 
tents  at  8  P.  M.,  and  went  into  camp,  having  marched  about 
eleven  miles,  many  of  them  almost  perpendicular.  Sep 
tember  6,  broke  camp  at  11 :30  A.  M.,  and  advanced  seven  or 
eight  miles  on  the  Lebanon  road,  bivouacking  at  5  P.  M.  on 
Lookout  Creek.  On  the  seventh  we  marched  at  7:30  A.  M. 
to  the  top  of  Lookout  Mountain,  to  Stevens'  Gap,  where  we 
bivouacked  at  1  P.  M.  The  eighth  we  marched  at  9:30 
A.  M.  proceeded  about  two  miles  along  the  summit  of 
Lookout  and  bivouacked  shortly  before  noon.  September 
9,  moved  at  eight  o'clock,  marched  down  the  mountain, 
and  bivouacked  about  half  past  ten  in  the  forenoon  at  Bailey's 


216  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

Cross  Roads.  Went  on  reconnaissance  to  the  front  at  5:30 
P.  M.,  and,  after  slight  skirmishing,  returned  to  bivouac 
at  8  P.  M.  On  the  tenth  we  marched  at  8: 30  A.  M.  to  Davis' 
Cross  Roads  and  bivouacked. 

This  brings  us  to  the  "sharp  engagement"  referred  to  by 
Comrade  Young,  and -the  Davis'  Cross  Roads  affair  may  be 
called  the  prelude  to  Chickamauga.  It  was  one  of  the  most 
stubbornly  contested  fights  in  which  the  Regiment  ever 
participated.  Stanley's  Brigade — that  would  be  ours— 
took  position  on  a  ridge  in  an  open  field  adjoining  the  river, 
the  Nineteenth  Illinois  on  the  left,  the  Eleventh  Michigan 
on  the  right,  with  sections  of  the  Fourth  Indiana  Battery 
on  each  flank  and  in  the  center  of  the  line.  Breastworks 
of  fence  rails  were  then  thrown  up,  but  about  four  in  the 
afternoon  our  Regiment  was  withdrawn  a  mile  or  so  to  the 
Davis'  house  and  formed  on  the  right  of  the  road.  Here 
breastworks  were  also  constructed  as  speedily  as  possible; 
Company  I  was  posted  to  the  right  and  front,  behind  a  barn, 
while  Company  K  was  sent  to  the  left  and  front,  to  take 
position  behind  a  stone  wall  which  commanded  the  road. 
There  was  a  cavalry  charge  on  our  left,  but  it  was  repulsed; 
then  Company  B  was  also  sent  to  the  skirmish  line,  and  the 
rest  of  the  Nineteenth  advanced  to  the  stone  wall  just  men 
tioned;  for  by  now  the  enemy  was  advancing  most  gallantly. 
At  close  range  the  Regiment  opened  a  sharp  musketry  fire 
on  the  foe,  instantly  silencing  their  exultant  yells,  and 
killing  several,  including  a  Confederate  Lieutenant  Colonel, 
besides  wounding  a  large  number,  driving  their  force  back 
in  confusion.  The  enemy  then  planted  a  battery  on  the 
right  of  the  road  and  it  opened  fire,  by  which  we  lost  one  man 
killed  and  one  wounded.  About  5:30  p.  m.  the  Regiment 
was  withdrawn  to  Davis'  Cross  Road,  took  position  to  the 
left  of  that  road,  and  laid  on  our  arms  all  night. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  217 

Meanwhile,  and  seeing  his  communications  threatened, 
Bragg,  who  had  called  in  Buckner's  large  force  from  Eastern 
Tennessee — thus  giving  up  Knoxville,  which  Burnside  im 
mediately  occupied — evacuated  Chattanooga,  and  moved 
twenty-five  miles  South  to  Lafayette,  where  he  covered  the 
railroad  and  hoped  to  fall  heavily  upon  the  Union  columns 
as  they  debouched  from  the  mountain  passes.  On  the 
ninth  of  September  Crittenden's  Corps  marched  from  Wau- 
hatchie  into  Chattanooga  and  took  possession  of  that  long- 
coveted  town.  Much  had  thus  been  accomplished  by  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland;  and,  greatly  elated,  the  people  in 
the  North  looked  on  with  eager  expectation,  not  knowing  that 
a  serious  disaster  was  soon  to  follow  on  the  heels  of  this 
premature  rejoicing-  For,  believing  that  Bragg' s  movement 
was  one  of  retreat,  although  it  was  never  so  intended,  Rose- 
crans  chose  to  pursue  the  enemy  along  the  railroad  to  Ring- 
gold  and  Dalton.  Toward  this  end  he  withdrew  all  of  Crit 
tenden's  Corps  except  one  brigade,  sent  Thomas'  Corps  into 
McLemore's  Cove,  and  pushed  forward  McCook's  Corps  to 
Alpine  and  Summerville,  thus  dividing  his  army  into  three 
parts,  rather  widely  separated.  "Such  a  movement  was 
hardly  justifiable  except  against  a  beaten  and  demoralized 
enemy,"  says  John  Fiske  in  "The  Mississippi  Valley  in  the 
Civil  War."  And  he  adds:  "The  three  corps  numbered 
each  scarcely  20,000  men;  and  between  them  and  Lafayette, 
close  in  front  of  the  Union  Center,  was  Bragg' s  whole  army 
in  excellent  condition  and  numbering  full  55,000.  It  looked 
as  if  Rosecrans  were  going  to  end  his  brilliant  campaign 
by  seeing  his  army  annihilated  corps  by  corps,  for  he  could 
not  possibly  draw  it  "together  in  less  than  three  or  four  days." 

Things,  however,  did  not  come  to  such  a  pass  as  that; 
but  as  this  is  not  a  history  of  Rosecrans '  campaign,  we  must 
necessarily  leave  out  details  and  come  as  soon  as  possible 
to  one  of  the  most  terrible  battles  of  the  Civil  War,  where 


218  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

the  Nineteenth  reaped  its  full  share  of  the  glory  which  came 
to  the  Fourteenth  Army  Corps. 

For  two  long  days — the  nineteenth  and  twentieth  of 
September,  1863 — one  hundred  and  thirty  thousand 
" starved  dogs  of  war  fed  full,"  as  hundreds  of  wide- 
mouthed  cannon  growled;  and  the  feeding  lines  of 
shouting  struggling  men  were  so  awfully  decimated 
on  a  Saturday  and  Sunday  of  forty-nine  or  fifty  years  ago 
that  Chickamauga  became  known  in  history  as  the  bloodiest 
battle  of  modern  times.  In  less  than  sixteen  hours  of  real 
fighting  the  casualities  on  both  sides  reached  the  fearful  total 
of  33,000  in  killed  and  wounded!  Judged  by  percentage, 
says  General  John  B.  Gordon,  this  nearly  doubled  the  san 
guinary  records  of  Marengo  and  Austerlitz;  was  two  and  a 
half  times  heavier  than  that  sustained  by  Marlborough  at 
Malplaquet;  more  than  double  that  suffered  by  the  army 
under  Henry  of  Navarre  in  the  awful  slaughter  at  Coutras; 
three  times  as  heavy  as  the  percentage  of  loss  at  Solferino ; 
five  times  greater  than  that  of  Napolean  at  Wagram;  and 
in  this  American  battle  thousands  fell  on  both  sides  fighting 
at  such  close  quarters  that  at  times  their  faces  were  burnt 
by  blazing  powder  at  the  very  muzzles  of  the  guns !  Looking 
back  on  it  now,  those  few  hours  so  crowded  with  death  and 
glory  seem  to  have  flown  at  lightning  speed,  but  when  they 
dragged  endlessly,  held  in  check,  as  it  were,  by  myriad  piti 
less  demands  for  help  which  none  could  give.  And  the  curious 
result  of  that  most  terrible  battle  of  the  Civil  War  was  this: 
Rosecrans,  thanks  to  Thomas,  held  Chattanooga,  the  ob 
jective  of  the  struggle,  while  Bragg  was  victor  of  a  barren 
field. 

Before  going  into  this  battle  we  must  first  bring  the  Reg 
iment  out  of  McLemore's  Cove,  which,  at  the  time,  was  a 
rather  difficult  undertaking,  as  the  reassembling  of  his  three 
corps  by  Rosecrans  .was  a  tactical  proceeding  that  even  the 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  219 

privates  could  not  make  heads  or  tails  of  for  quite  a  little 
while.  The  Commander  of  our  army  was  detained  in  the 
valley  two  days  longer  than  there  was  any  need  of — McCook 
took  four  or  five  days  to  do  what  he  should  have  done  in 
two — and  Rosecrans  had  not  concentrated  his  forces  until 
the  eighteenth  of  September.  This  allowed  time  for  Bragg 
to  receive  another  heavy  reinforcement.  Now  from  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  Longs treet's  two  divisions,  nine  bri- 
.gades  in  all,  and  counting  no  fewer  than  eight  or  nine  thou 
sand  real  fighters.  On  the  Seventeenth  the  Regiment  moved 
at  noon,  marched  seven  or  eight  miles,  then  bivouacked  near 
Crawfish  Spring.  Next  day  we  did  not  move  until  four 
P.  M.,  and  then,  after  some  marching  here  and  there,  re 
turned  to  bivouac  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  whence  we 
had  started. 

By  this  time  both  armies  were  in  Chickamauga  Valley, 
ours  on  the  West  side  of  the  river,  the  Confederates  on  the 
East  side.  Undoubtedly  the  surviving  boys  of  the  Nine 
teenth  will  remember  that  there  were  once  such  places  as 
Widow  Glenn's,  the  old  Ross  House,  Snodgrass  Hill,  the 
Lafayette  road,  Crawfish  Spring — half  a  dozen  more  places 
which  we  were  fated  to  see  during  those  few  days  in  Septem 
ber.  The  only  roads  to  Chattanooga  and  our  communica 
tions  lay  through  McFarland  and  Rossville  Gaps,  in  Mission 
ary  Ridge — memorable  ridge,  as  we  shall  come  to  know  in 
another  chapter — and  for  hours  and  hours  the  troops  were 
marched  through  a  darkness  so  thick  that  one  could  almost 
cut  it,  until  we  had  taken  position  in  line  of  battle  for  the 
morrow.  Thomas  was  placed  on  the  Union  left,  and  he  was 
told  that  he  should  be  properly  reinforced  if  it  took  all  the 
rest  of  the  army  to  do  it ;  McCook  was  on  the  Right,  and  Crit- 
tenden  in  reserve,  so  to  speak.  Rosecrans  was  able  to  bring 
into  the  action  about  60,000  men  and  Bragg  had  at  least 
10,000  more;  then  followed  one  of  the  greatest  combats  re- 


220  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

corded  in  history.  In  it  the  losses  in  killed,  wounded  and 
missing  amounted  to  the  awful  total  of  nearly  33,000,  or 
about  one  in  every  four  engaged ! 

Words  could  never  convey  an  adequate  picture  of  the 
almost  countless  assaults  and  repulses,  the  daring  courage, 
the  grim  grapples  in  hand  to  hand  collisions,  the  unparal 
leled  slaughter  and  agony  of  those  few  hours  of  battle  half 
a  century  ago.  The  valor  displayed  on  both  sides  was  never 
surpassed  in  civilized  or  barbaric  warfare.  It  was  a  combat 
of  the  Brave  against  the  Brave,  quite  sufficient  to  immor 
talize  every  soldier  who  fought  at  Chickamauga.  The  Con 
federate  General  Hindman,  in  his  report,  and  speaking  of  the 
struggle  on  the  second  day,  says:  "I  have  never  known  Fed 
eral  troops  to  fight  so  well.  It  is  just  to  say  also,  that  I 
never  saw  Confederate  soldiers  fight  better."  The  Nine-' 
teenth  Illinois,  on  this  great  occasion,  was  in  the  Second 
Brigade,  Second  (Negley's)  Division,  Fourteenth  Army 
Corps,  George  H.  Thomas  commanding.  With  us  in  the 
Brigade  were  the  Eleventh  Michigan,  the  Eighteenth  Ohio, 
and  Battery  M,  First  Ohio  Light  Artillery.  The  First 
Brigade  of  our  Division  was  commanded  by  Brigadier- 
General  John  Beatty,  and  with  him  were  our  dear  old  friends 
of  Company  G,  now  Bridges'  Battery,  of  great  renown. 
The  Third  Division  was  that  of  Brigadier  General  John  M. 
Brannan,  while  the  Fourth  was  under  Major  General  Joseph 
J.  Reynolds,  and  one  of  his  brigades  was  led  by  Brigadier 
General  John  B.  Turchin,  our  first  and  ever  beloved  Colonel, 
the  famous  Russian  soldier.  The  total  casualties  of  the 
Fourteenth  Corps  alone  during  those  two  days  were  more 
than  9,000. 

During  the  first  day  Negley's  Division  did  not  partici 
pate  until  late  in  the  afternoon,  when,  moving  from  Widow 
Glenn's  house  to  the  front,  it  met  a  portion  of  the  Con 
federate  force  which  broke  between  Davis  and  Van  Cleve's 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  221 

Divisions,  and  drove  them  back,  the  Nineteenth  participat 
ing  in  the  sharp  melee,  after  which  we  took  position  and 
remained  on  our  arms  all  night.  The  morning  of  September 
20,  about  7  A.  M.,  according  to  the  Regimental  returns  fur 
nished  by  Comrade  Young,  we  moved  to  the  left  for  two 
miles  or  so,  and  then,  with  the  Brigade,  went  into  action 
about  10  A.  M.  " Charging  across  a  field  we  drove  the  enemy 
in  great  disorder  through  the  woods  nearly  half  a  mile,  cap 
turing  Brigadier  General  Adams  of  the  Confederate  Army, 
and  a  number  of  his  men,  Adams  surrendering  to  Captain 
Pres.  Guthrie,  of  Company  K.  The  enemy  being  heavily 
reinforced,  then  opened  on  us  with  a  battery  loaded  with 
grape  and  cannister,  and,  being  without  support,  we  retired 
slowly,  in  good  order, "the  Confederates  following  closely  for 
some  distance.  When  the  brigade  was  reformed,  we  moved 
to  the  crest  of  Snodgrass  Hill,  where  we  were  constantly 
engaged  with  the  foe  from  about  noon  till  nearly  7  P.  M., 
under  a  most  terrific  fire.  At  about  four  o'clock  Grade's 
Brigade  of  Buckner's  Corps  charged  upon  us  with  desperate 
energy,  but  were  driven  back  with  heavy  loss,  and  after 
making  several  furious  attempts  upon  our  position,  during 
which  they  at  one  time  planted  their  colors  within  a  hundred 
yards  of  our  own,  they  were  driven  down  the  hill  by  the  de 
termined  valor  of  our  men.  Twice  our  brigade  exhausted 
its  supply  of  ammunition,  but  was  supplied,  once  by  Beatty's 
force,  the  second  time  from  the  cartridge  boxes  of  the  killed 
and  wounded.  The  ammunition  of  the  prisoners  taken  on 
the  hill  was  also  used  in  its  defence.  The  enemy  finally 
abandoned  the  attempt  to  dislodge  us,  having  sustained  a 
tremendous  loss  in  killed  and  wounded,  also  many  prisoners. 
At  about  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  after  the  enemy's  fire 
had  ceased  for  more  than  an  hour,  the  Regiment,  with  the 
other  troops,  retired  from  the  field,  silently  and  in  good  order, 
marched  down  the  road  toward  Chattanooga,  and  bivouacked 


222  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

about  eleven  P.  M.  at  Rossville.  The  Twenty-fiist  we 
moved  at  6  A.  M.,  marched  about  a  mile,  then  took  position 
on  the  top  of  a  hill,  where  we  remained  until  nearly  midnight, 
when  we  quietly  withdrew,  marched  to  Chattanooga,  a 
distance  of  five  miles,  reaching  that  city  at  three  o'clock  in 
the  morning  of  the  twenty-second,  and  bivouacked  for  the 
rest  of  the  night." 

Now  that  would  be  but  scant  account  of  the  Nineteenth's 
participation  in  the  greatest  battle  of  the  war  if  we  left  it 
there;  fortunately,  however,  we  are  able  to  give  much  fuller 
details  of  its  doings  at  Chickamauga.  It  must  be  remem 
bered  that  our  Regiment  was  in  Stanley's  brigade,  Negley's 
Division,  Thomas'  Fourteenth  Corps.  History  says  that 
during  the  night  of  September  19,  Bragg  brought  all  his  in 
fantry  across  the  river,  or  creek,  placed  Longstreet  on  his 
Left,  and  Polk  on  his  Right,  and  soon  after  nine  o'clock  on 
Sunday  morning,  the  twentieth,  he  attacked  vigorously. 
Thomas  held  his  own  as  sturdily  as  before,  but  was  obliged 
to  call  for  reinforcements,  whereupon  Rosecrans  weakened 
his  right  to  support  him.  Then  a  catastrophe  occurred 
which  really  gave  the  battle  to  the  enemy. 

Near  the  center  of  our  line,  where  the  shock  of  combat  had 
not  yet  arrived  three  divisions  were  posted  in  zigzag  fashion. 
The  first  of  these  was  Reynold's  Division ;  next  on  the  right 
was  Brannan's,  considerably  refused  to  the  right  and  hidden 
among  the  trees;  next  was  Wood's  Division,  nearly  at  right 
angles  to  that  of  Brannan.  Through  some  misunderstanding 
Rosecrans  heard  there  was  a  gap  in  his  line  and  he  sent  an 
Aide-de-Camp  to  order  Wood  to  close  up  on  Reynold's  as 
fast  as  possible  and  support  the  latter.  If  he  had  said, 
"Close  up  on  Brannan,"  all  would  have  gone  well;  for  how 
could  Wood  close  up  on  Reynold's  when  there  was  Brannan's 
entire  division  between  them?  Wood  knew  he  could  not- 
close  up  on  Reynold's,  but  he  might  support  him  by  passing 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  223 

around  Brannan's  rear,  and  this  was  what  he  did,  thus  leav 
ing  a  great  empty  space  in  the  middle  of  the  battle  front. 
Just  at  that  moment  Longstreet  received  orders  to  attack 
our  force,  and  as  he  at  once  discovered  this  gap  in  our  lines 
he  poured  into  it  several  of  his  brigades,  one  after  another, 
an  overwhelming  mass.  The  whole  right  wing  thus  taken 
on  its  flank,  was  swept  off  the  field  in  utter  and  hopeless  rout. 
Rosecrans  himself  was  caught  in  the  fleeing  throng  and 
whirled  away,  and  so  were  McCook  and  Crittenden.  The 
cannon  of  the  right  were  now  nearly  all  in  the  hands  of  the 
enemy,  and  more  than  half  the  Union  army  in  full  flight. 
Fortunately,  however,  it  was  not  the  right  wing  that  held 
the  key  of  the  position.  Over  on  the  left  Thomas  was  hold 
ing  that  key,  and  if  he  lost  it  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland 
would  be  annihilated;  Chattanooga  would  be  lost,  and  the 
Confederates,  flushed  with  a  victory  compared  to  which 
even  Chancellorsville  was  nothing,  would  in  a  few  weeks 
plant  their  batteries  before  Nashville,  perhaps  before  Cin 
cinnati.  Such  was  the  issue  which  rested  that  afternoon 
upon  the  shoulders  of  one  man.  It  was  a  crisis  scarcely  less 
terrible  than  that  of  Gettysburg.  But  the  occasion  was 
never  found  to  which  George  H.  Thomas  proved  unequal. 
The  more  disasters  thickened  about  him,  the  more  grandly 
did  he  defy  them.* 

The  extent  of  the  disaster  on  the  Right  was  first  revealed 
to  Thomas  by  the  appalling  sight  of  great  masses  of  the  foe 
coming  toward  his  flank  instead  of  the  reinforcements  which 
he  had  been  calling  for.  About  half  a .  mile  in  his  rear  was 
a  curved  elevation  over  which  ran  the  Rossville  road,  the 
goal  of  the  enemy's  efforts.  It  was  a  rocky  hillock  rising 
steeply  from  the  lower  level  before  Rossville  Gap,  the  only 
opening  of  any  importance  through  the  mountains  back  to 
Chattanooga,  aud  this  height  bears  in  history  the  names  both 

*John  Fiske. 


224  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

of  Snodgrass  Hill  and  Horseshoe  Ridge.  To  this  ridge  we 
fell  back,  and  there,  on  its  most  favorable  points,  Thomas 
planted  his  artillery  and  placed  his  infantry.  There  some 
16;000  Union  soldiers  were  pitted  against  more  than  28,000 
Confederates,  mad  with  desire  to  clutch  the  prize  of  war. 
For  six  terrible  hours,  our  numbers  lessening  momentarily 
till  half  the  Corps  was  stretched  dead  or  wounded  on  the 
ground,  we  stood  at  bay,  while  in  the  midst  of  this  fearful 
carnage  our  beloved  Commander  rode  to  and  fro  infusing 
his  men  with  his  own  great  spirit,  inspiring  them  with  his 
heroic  grandeur.  Is  it  to  be  wondered  at  that  those  few 
thousand  Boys  in  Blue  should  have  so  nobly  helped  to  add 
the  grand  title  of  "Rock  of  Chickamauga"  to  that  of  "Old 
Pap"  with  which  we  already  honored  Thomas? 

li  Again  to  the  battle,  Achians!"  which  rages  loud  and 
long,  and  where  bullets,  shells,  and  cannister  are  as  "thick 
as  autumnal  leaves  that  strew  the  brooks  in  Vallombrosa. " 
Just  beyond  us,  so  close  that  we  can  almost  hear  their  very 
words,  and  indeed  we  can  their  yelling,  are  the  "Johnnies" 
under  famous  Longstreet,  from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
firing  as  they  advance  in  serried  columns  on  our  position. 
"Give  them  one  more  volley,  boys,  then  lend  a  hand  to 
yonder  battery,"  some  officer  calls  out,  and  the  response  is 
immediate,  though  we  can't  help  thinking:  Wasn't  death 
near  enough  already?  Wasn't  there  never  to  be  any  let 
up  to  this  thing?  Never  to  be  God's  Country  for  us  any 
more?  Were  all  the  loved  ones  back  yonder  gone  for 
ever?  No  time  for  thinking  now.  Get  to  work!  And  we 
knelt  to  fire.  Then  a  forward  spring  toward  those  cannon. 
Boom,  boom!  here;  boom,  boom!  yonder — both  sides  firing  at 
point  blank  range.  Jets  of  blazing  powder  jump  down  and 
scorch  the  earth  round  about.  Look  at  those  yelling  Rebs— 
how  they  keep  coming  on!  There's  more  than  a  million  of 
them,  if  there's  a  hundred !  Every  man  is  by  now  a  perfect 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  225 

i 

machine.  Him  not  to  think,  but  to  obey,  to  cling  to  his  gun, 
and  to  aim  low.  Bullets  splash  red  mud — the  earth  had  been 
made  mire  by  human  blood — into  our  faces,  still  we  do  not 
wince.  Bullets,  fragments  of  shell,  grape,  and  cannister, 
sing  over  and  around,  louder  than  songs  of  Southern  katy 
dids,  but  no  one  dodges.  What's  the  use?  There  goes  a 
comrade  down — and  there's  another!  See  that  fellow  keel 
over  as  he  aims!  And  the  cannoneers — why,  there's  hardly 
enough  of  them  left  to  fire  the  guns  still  standing!  Ah! 
that's  the  third  artilleryman  to  fall  since  the  Captain  spoke. 
The  ground  shakes  and  trembles;  the  roar  shuts  out  all 
sounds  from  other  parts  of  the  line — if  there  is  any  left  of  it. 
If  there  is  an  Army  of  the  Cumberland  anywhere!  Shells 
are  shrieking,  and  cannister  are  cutting  swaths  of  humans  in 
the  kneeling  rows.  Splinters  off  rocks  are  flying  dangerously ; 
the  blood-soaked  earth  is  being  dug  up  in  chunks  by  ripping 
balls.  If  one  had  time  to  indulge  in  such  a  thing,  one  might 
think  a  tornado  howling  over  the  battlefield. 

Again  the  foe  comes  on  in  renewed  assault;  they  come  so 
swiftly  that  we  can  hardly  count  their  volleying.  The  re 
ports  of  their  guns  and  our  own  are  blended  in  a  dirge  of 
destruction,  and  the  smoke  of  musketry  and  of  cannon  is  so 
thickly  spread  over  and  about  us  that  we  can  hardly  see 
aught  save  those  who  are  next  to  us.  The  shriek  of  shell  is 
the  wickedest  sound  of  battle,  but  nothing  makes  the  flesh 
crawl  like  demoniac,  purring,  whistling  grapeshot  and  the 
serpent-hiss  of  cannister.  Men's  legs  are  torn  from  bodies, 
and  bodies  are  cut  in  two.  A  shell  takes,  at  most,  only  two 
or  three  men  out  of  the  ranks  as  it  hits,  but  grape  or  can 
nister  mows  down  part  of  a  platoon  and  piles  the  dead  and 
wounded  on  top  of  one  another.  Through  the  thick  smoke 
suddenly  we  see  a  swarm  of  men  in  Gray,  not  in  battle-line, 
but  an  on-coming  mass  of  soldiers  bent  on  burying  their 
bullets  into  resisting  flesh.  Cannon  flash  on  them,  and  we 


226  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

volley  into  them  our  best  compliments  of  welcome,  amidst 
the  screams  of  the  dying  as  they  advance.  Brave  men,  those, 
by  all  the  gods  of  war !  But  it  takes  brave  men  to  withstand 
their  charge.  See!  they  are  almost  upon  us.  " Charge 
bayonets!"  why  certainly — here  goes.  All  together — there 
was  never  another  brigade  that  could  do  the  volley  and  charge 
so  well  as  ours — bayonets  lunging  in  fierce  thrust,  metallic 
sparks  flying  as  though  from  flints;  and  then,  the  front  is  a 
wild  scene  of  fast  disappearing  masses  of  Gray  seeking  safety 
in  sudden  flight,  leaving  Mother  Earth  blackened  and  bloody. 
Soldiers  have  been  slain  so  mercilessly  that  the  ground  is  so 
thickly  strewn  with  the  dead  and  dying  one  cannot  help  step 
ping  on  them  for  a  score  and  more  of  yards ;  aye,  for  half  a 
hundred,  in  every  direction — except  toward  the  rear. 

The  issue  of  the  contest  is  still  hanging  in  the  balance, 
however;  for  the  foe,  strongly  reinforced,  renews  the  attack 
again  and  again,  and  we  have  no  help  to  call  upon.  Hold  the 
position  until  night  comes  on,  is  the  unspoken  slogan  which 
beats  in  every  Union  soldier's  breast.  Joshua,  in  his  great 
battle  against  the  kings  of  the  Amorites,  bade  the  sun  stand 
still ;  we  pray  that  it  may  soon  descend,  and  let  darkness  not 
only  shut  out  the  awful  scene,  but  give  us  a  few  minutes  in 
which  to  gasp  for  breath  once  more.  Slowly  but  surely  that 
darkness  draws  near,  yet  the  rage  of  strife  still  prevails. 
Assault  after  assault  is  made  on  us  by  a  heroic  foe,  and  as 
sault  after  assault  is  hurled  back  by  heroes  who  hold  the 
ridge.  The  sharper  the  attack  the  more  determined  the 
defence;  and  meanwhile  the  atmosphere  is  full  of  death. 
The  melancholy  rays  of  a  setting  sun  are  now  shining  a 
blurred  farewell  on  the  scene,  but  anxiety  as  to  the  issue  of 
the  struggle  is  far  from  settled.  Will  the  combat  cease  with 
darkness,  or  will  Longstreet  continue  it  with  night  assaults? 
It  is  clear  that  the  enemy  are  as  exhausted  in  body  and 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  227 

resources  as  ourselves,  still  none  knows  what  those  Confed 
erates  may  do,  and  so  we  wonder  as  we  fight  on.  At  last 
their  whole  line — what  is  left  of  it — comes  dashing  upon  us 
in  rage  and  fury,  firing  as  they  advance,  and  giving  that 
yell  of  theirs.  With  boyonets  and  clubbed  muskets  we  meet 
them  in  fierce  resistance.  Knowing  what  yielding  means, 
the  Boys  in  Blue  stand  to  it,  nor  yield  a  single  foot  of  it,  but 
see  to  it  that  the  guns  and  swords  of  thovse  in  Gray  shall  fade 
away  in  the  gloom,  so  that  before  us  and  half  way  round  us 
all  is  quiet  save  for  the  groaning  and  the  sighs  and  the  pray 
ers  of  the  wounded  stretched  over  the  hills  and  fields  border 
ing  the  "  River  of  Death, "  as  Indians  of  long  ago  named  the 
historic  stream. 

And  throughout  these  long  and  fearful  hours  it  has  been 
not  only  patriotism  and  loyalty,  but  an  esprit  de  corps 
which  held  us  firm.  It  was  thus  we  came  to  be  the 
pride  and  the  boast  of  modern  soldiers,  the  admired  and 
beloved  of  our  friends  and  fellow  citizens,  from  the  President 
down  to  the  humblest  person  in  the  Northland.  And  it  was 
the  last  time  the  army  then  commanded  by  Bragg,  after 
ward  by  Johnston  and  Hood,  ever  advanced,  in  battle  array, 
upon  the  Fourteenth  Army  Corps  while  the  Nineteenth 
Illinois  was  a  part  of  that  incomparable  organization. 

Comrade  J.  W.  King,  whose  regiment,  the  Eleventh 
Michigan,  was  in  our  brigade,  wrote  some  time  afterward  to 
the  new  Zouave  Gazette  of  that  second  day's  battling  as 
follows:  " Sunday,  September  20,  broke  clear  and  crisp  over 
the  heads  of  'the  impatient  combatants.  Before  daylight 
the  men  of  Stanley's  Brigade  were  awake  and  in  line  eating 
their  morning  meal  of  crackers  and  raw  bacon.  It  was 
understood  Rosecrans  did  not  care  to  begin  aggressive 
movements  on  account  of  its  being  the  Lord's  day,  and  as 
the  morning  wore  away  it  seemed  that  Bragg  was  of  the  same 
mind.  But  the  calm  was  only  a  forerunner  of  the  awful 


228  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

tempest  of  battle  which  broke  when  Polk,  the  Bishop  Gen 
eral,  made  his  onslaught  against  the  Left  of  Thomas'  line, 
with  a  view  to  getting  possession  of  the  Lafayette  road,  and 
thus  prevent  Rosecrans  reaching  Chattanooga.  Hard- 
pressed  by  overwhelming  numbers,  and  being  somewhat 
driven,  Thomas  was  calling  on  the  Commanding  General 
for  reinforcements,  whereupon,  about  nine  o'clock,  Negley's 
division  was  ordered  to  his  assistance.  The  Second  Brigade 
withdrew  from  the  line  and  had  proceeded  toward  the  Left 
about  forty  rods  when  it  was  discovered  that  the  enemy  was 
pushing  a  strong  column  in  to  the  space  we  had  made  vacant, 
so  the  command  to  about  face  and  charge  at  double-quick 
was  given.  It  was  at  once  evident  to  the  men  that  the  race 
was  on  for  the  barricade  which  had  been  protecting  us;  but 
it  was  the  Confederates  who  were  driven  away  in  confusion 
and  with  considerable  loss.  Then  the  brigade  started  again 
to  the  help  of  Thomas.  We  marched  at  quick  time  for  about 
a  mile  and  a  quarter  along  the  rear  of  the  line  of  battle,  and 
meanwhile  the  combat  was  raging  furiously.  On  reaching 
the  left  of  Baird's  Division,  behind  breastworks  and  fighting 
desperately,  our  Brigade  formed  in  line  at  the  edge  of  the 
woods  at  the  North  end  of  Kelley's  field,  at  right  angle  to 
the  general  line  of  battle,  facing  the  North.  In  front  was  a 
dense  thicket  of  underbrush  and  small  saplings;  but  to  more 
effectively  screen  our  position  bushes  were  hastily  cut  and 
piled  in  front  of  the  brigade.  This  gave  the  men  lying 
behind  the  screen  a  clear  view  into  the  open  woods  in  front, 
while  they  themselves  were  not  visible  to  those  advancing 
upon  us.  General  John  Beatty  now  came  up  with  a  fragment 
of  his  brigade  and  formed  on  the  right,  thus  extending  the 
line  across  the  Lafayette  road. 

"The  enemy  were  driving  the  skirmishers  in  swiftly, 
yelling  as  they  came.  When  within  two  or  three  rods  of  our 
brigade  line  the  regimental  Flags  were  raised  suddenly,  a 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  229 

sheet  of  flame  went  from  the  muzzles  of  our  guns,   and  a 
windrow  of  dead  and  wounded  Confederates  lay  on  the 
ground.     Those  who  were  not  injured  fled  to  the  rear  in 
in  wildest  confusion.     Our  brigade  pursued  them  over  sixty 
rods,  across  the  McDonald  field,  capturing  many  prisoners. 
While  this  charge  was  being  made  Thomas  was  re-establishing 
his  line  in  a  new  position;  and  our  brigade  had  barely  reached 
the  McDonald  clearing  when  we  were  ordered  to  fall  back  to 
the  right  and  rear.     We  had  proceeded  only  a  short  distance 
when  Stoxall's  brigade  of  Breckenridge's  Division  opened 
a  heavy  fire  on  our  left  flank  from  the  direction  of  the  La 
fayette  road.     Immediately  we  changed  front,  facing  East, 
and  a  terrific  fire  was  kept  up  for  some  time,  the  contending 
forces  moving  slowly  to  the  South,  with  the  enemy  evidently 
trying  to  outflank  our  brigade.     But  on  reaching  a  point  in 
the  woods  West  of  the  North  end  of  Kelley  's  field,  and  about 
due  East  of  the  Snodgrass  house,  the  enemy  disapppeared. 
It  was  here  that  the  gallant  and  genial  soldier,  Lieutenant 
"  Billy  "Bishop,  of  Bridges'  Battery,  gave  up  his  precious  life. 
U0n  the  disappearance  of  the  foe  in  front,  the  brigade 
again  faced  by  the  rear  rank,  and  marching  in  a  westerly  di 
rection  reached  Snodgrass  Hill  at  noon  time.     At  this  mo 
ment  the  advance  of  Law's  Division  was  ascending  the  hill 
from  the  Poe  and  Dyer  fields,  and  a  contest  for  the  heights  en 
sued,  which  is  set  down  in  history  as  one  of  the  most  desper 
ate  and  determined  struggles  that  occurred  during  the  Civil 
War.    Colonel  Stanley  had  been  wounded  in  the  shoulder,  and 
command  of  the  brigade  now  devolved  upon  Colonel  Stough- 
ton  of  the  Eleventh  Michigan.     After  the  first  repulse  of  the 
enemy  the  lines  of  the  brigade  were  reformed,  the  Eleventh 
taking  position  along  the  ridge  from  Smith's  Fourth  United 
States  Battery  to  the  right,  the  Nineteenth  Illinois  on  the 
right  of  the  Eleventh  and  extending  up  the  hill  to  an  elbow 
or  spur.     The  Eighteenth  Ohio  was  posted  as  support  to  a 


230  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

section  of  Smith's  Battery  near  the  Snodgrass  house.  The 
two  regiments  in  line  hastily  got  together  all  the  rails,  logs, 
and  rocks  which  could  be  obtained  and  constructed  a  slight 
barricade  from  behind  which  we  awaited  the  coming  one 
slaught.  The  contest  was  unequal,  for  it  was  sustained  on 
the  Union  side  by  these  two  regiments,  containing  not  more 
than  five  hundred  and  fifty  men,  assisted  by  about  on- 
hundred  other  soldiers  belonging  to  various  battalions,  and 
who  were  posted  on  the  right  of  the  Nineteenth.  Small 
detachments  from  the  Eighteenth  Ohio  were  sent  to  us  in  the 
hardest  pinch,  but  the  total  number  at  any  time  did  not  ex 
ceed  six  hundred  and  fifty  men  holding  their  own  against 
quite  fifteen  hundred,  perhaps  two  thousand,  Confederates. 
Then  Steedman's  Division  of  Stanley's  Reserve  Corps  came 
up  and  these,  with  Vander veer's  Brigade  reached  the  hill 
just  as  the  rebel  divisions  of  Johnson,  Preston,  Hindman, 
Law,  and  Kershaw  had  begun  a  fierce  assault  along  the  whole 
Union  line.  There  were  charges  and  counter-charges,  but 
the  enemy  held  his  ground  until  six  o'clock;  rallying  every 
man  that  could  be  got,  we  dashed  forward  with  a  cheer  upon 
the  Confederates.  Their  flags  went  down,  their  line  broke, 
and  they  fell  back  from  the  field.  Our  ammunition  became 
exhausted  during  the  fight  and  every  cartridge  that  could  be 
found  on  the  bodies  of  the  killed  and  wounded  was  distrib 
uted  among  the  men.  About  eight  o'clock  orders  came  to 
retire,  the  brigade  was  quietly  formed,  and  we  marched  in 
good  order  to  Rossville." 

There  can  be  no  disputing  of  the  fact  that  Negley's 
Brigades  were  all  in  the  line  which  held  Horseshoe  Ridge 
against  the  fighting  "  Johnnies"  that  day.  One  was  in  the 
Gap,  on  the  Ringgold  Road,  and  two  were  on  the  summit  and 
side  of  the  ridge  to  the  right  and  adjoining  our  brigade. 
Thomas  says  so  in  his  official  report  of  that  brilliant  defense, 
and  no  man  knew  so  well  as  he.  And  in  that  report  one  may 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  231 

read  these  words:  " Brigadier  General  John  Beatty  and 
Colonel  T.  R.  Stanley,  commanding  brigades  of  Negley's 
Division,  bravely  supported  Baird's  left  on  Sunday."  The 
obstinate  maintenance  of  the  ridge  on  the  right  until  after 
sunset  had  brought  ours  and  Beatty's  brigade  into  close 
company,  and  most  certainly  both  did  their  share  in  saving 
Rosecran's  army  from  total  rout. 

Never  was  a  higher  heroism  displayed  than  on  that 
portion  of  the  field,  and  in  naming  some  of  those  who 
fought  near  or  under  him,  Beatty  especially  mentions  Lieu 
tenant  Colonel  Alexander  W.  Raff  en,  of  the  Nineteenth 
Illinois,  as  among  "men  who  deserve  the  gratitude  of  the 
Nation  for  an  exhibition  on  this  occasion  of  determined  cour 
age  which  is  unsurpassed  in  the  history  of  the  Rebellion." 
And  Stanley,  brigade  commander  until  he  was  wounded, 
says  in  his  official  report  that  "  Raff  en's  Regiment  was  ever 
in  the  hottest  of  the  fight."  And  General  Alexander, 
Longstreet's  Chief  of  Artillery,  in  his  admirable  book, 
" Military  Memoirs  of  a  Confederate,"  says:  "The  bayonet 
was  sometimes  used,  and  men  were  killed  with  clubbed  mus 
kets.  This  was  kept  up  from  two  to  six  P.  M.,  during  which 
time  the  infantry  fire  was  incessant  and  tremendous. "  And 
Negley,  writing  to  General  Hunter  at  Washington,  after 
calling  his  attention  to  the  fact  that  over  seven  hundred  of 
his  men  were  left  on  this  sanguinary  field,  says:  "The  enemy 
counts  not  the  battle-grimed,  bullet-torn  standards  of  the 
Second  Division  among  its  trophies,  but  remembers  with 
grief  its  splendid  discipline  and  glorious  charges." 

Long  after  the  battle  Captain  James  G.  Campbell,  of 
Company  F,  Nineteenth  Illinois,  wrote  for  the  Zouave  Ga 
zette  the  following  spirited  account  of  the  part  taken  by  our 
Regiment  as  he  remembered  it,  in  that  awful  engagement: 
"It  was  Sunday  forenoon,  the  twentieth  of  September,  that 
the  Regiment,  with  others  of  our  brigade — commanded  by 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

Colonel  Stanley— was  taken  from  its  position  and  ordered  to 
the  extreme  left.  General  Rosecrans  rode  past,  and,  giving 
some  instructions,  ordered  the  three  regiments  to  be  formed 
in  double  column.  The  fight  was  raging  in  front,  which 
was  thickly  wooded,  so  that  the  line  of  battle  was  hid  from 
us,  although  the  sound  of  it  was  painfully  distinct.  Shells 
were  falling  thickly,  striking  where  we  formed,  plowing  the 
ground,  throwing  up  dirt  and  stone,  sometimes  crashing  into 
fences  and  sending  splinters  everywhere.  Straggling  lines 
of  wounded  men  were  emerging  from  the  woods  in  front  by 
various  paths.  We  continued  our  march  toward  the  left, 
rushing  forward,  although  it  was  difficult  to  tell  just  where 
we  were.  Then,  still  in  the  same  formation  of  double  col 
umn,  we  were  halted  and  ordered  to  lie  down,  and  were  at 
once  under  a  heavy  artillery  fire  from  the  enemy.  The 
shells  and  balls  were  crashing  through  the  trees,  also  over 
and  around  us,  and  with  nothing  to  do  but  hug  the  ground 
the  situation  was  far  from  comfortable.  Getting  tired  of  a 
prostrate  position,  also  becoming  careless,  and  wishing  to 
see  anything  that  might  be  seen,  I  sat  up.  Just  then  Cor 
poral  Boyer  of  my  company  raised  himself  on  his  hand  and 
arm,  looked  over  my  shoulder,and,  seeing  me  sitting  there, 
smiled  and  nodded  pleasantly.  Before  lying  down  again  he 
shook  his  head,  still  smiling — I  had  almost  said  sweetly, 
for,  with  the  noblest  manly  courage,  he  had  the  soft  beauty 
of  a  girl.  The  shake  of  the  head  and  the  smile  seemed  to 
say,  '  This  place  is  unhealthy,  but  what  do  we  care. '  That 
was  his  last  nod  and  smile  to  me,  probably  the  last  of  all. 

'The  cannonade  slackened,  then  ceased.  Our  columns 
were  deployed  and  we  were  advancing  in  line  to  where  the 
ground  was  more  open.  The  regiments  on  our  right  and 
left  were  thrown  in  advance  of  us  on  either  side  about  fifty 
to  one  hundred  yards,  but  we  were  under  a  heavy  fire  of 
musketry.  The  musket  balls  like  bumble  bees  went  singing 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  233 

by,  with  an  occasional  patter  and  spat  as  they  found  a  mark 
on  human  flesh.  Now  and  again  a  subdued  exclamation  of 
pain  was  heard.  The  singing  of  those  bumble  bees  was  more 
trying  to  the  nerves  than  the  crash  of  the  artillery  to  which 
we  had  just  been  exposed.  The  firing  line  of  the  enemy  was 
advancing  on  us  steadily.  Regiments  on  our  flanks  seemed 
to  be  engaged;  and  then  the  foe  was  upon  us,  their  colors 
flying  gaily,  their  line  firm  and  unbroken,  firing  by  files  as 
they  advanced,  and  in  the  intervals  the  puffs  of  their  guns 
were  plainly  seen.  In  an  instant  the  eye  took  in  the  whole 
situation.  Instinctively  every  musket  in  our  regiment  was 
brought  to  the  position  of  aim,  and  the  next  command,  un- 
military  and  informal,  but  emphatic,  was  l  Boys,  give  it  to 
them!'  At  the  word  a  sheet  of  fire  and  rain  of  lead  burst 
in  the  face  of  the  oncoming  enemy.  The  next  command  was 
also  informal.  ' Forward!'  and  with  a  yell,  the  Nineteenth 
was  through  and  beyond  the  smoke  of  their  own  discharge, 
beyond  the  line  of  the  wounded  and  dying  of  the  Confeder 
ates,  mingling  now  with  the  fugitives.  The  line  but  a  mo 
ment  ago  advancing  so  strong  and  so  bravely,  is  utterly 
broken;  and  the  pursued  who  are  outstripped  in  the  race 
fall  to  our  rear  as  prisoners  of  war. 

"At  such  a  time  it  is  difficult  to  preserve  anything  like 
organization.  There  are  some  anxious  and  able  to  advance 
rapidly,  while  others  are  neither  anxious  nor  able,  and,  be 
tween  the  two  extremes  there  are  all  grades  of  celerity.  In 
the  scattered  condition  produced  by  these  causes,  the  Nine 
teenth,  with  portions  of  the  other  two  regiments  that  had 
also  joined  in  the  pursuit,  was  scattered  over  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  through  open  woods,  the  advance  getting  as  far  as  an 
open  field.  In  it,  on  the  top  of  a  ridge,  and  about  three 
hundred  yards  off,  was  a  rebel  battery — guns  silent  and 
apparently  deserted.  Some  of  the  boldest  spirits  wanted 
to  charge  the  guns  and  capture  them,  as  only  a  handful 


234  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

of  men  could  be  seen  there;  but  indications  showed  that 
a  force  was  concealed  behind  those  cannon,  and  the  more 
cautious,  fearing  a  trap,  discouraged  the  attempt.  While 
we  yet  wavered  those  guns  suddenly  began  to  belch  rounds 
of  cannister  on  us.  We  at  once  fell  back  into  the  woods, 
missiles  of  death  swiftly  following  us,  crushing  after  and  past 
us,  but  there  was  no  excitement,  for  that  of  seeming  victory 
had  spent  itself.  Now  the  pulse  was  toned  down  and  regular. 
A  musket  ball  might  have  singed  one's  cheek  without  causing 
a  deflection  of  the  head;  a  shell  might  have  burst  within  a 
few  feet  without  producing  perceptible  change  or  gait  or 
direction,  if  perchance  the  man  was  unhurt. 

"About  midway  between  the  place  where  the  charge 
began  and  where  the  advance  pursuers  halted,  our  Colors 
were  planted,  and  the  Regiment  was  reformed,  a  work  of 
some  difficulty,  especially  as  a  fresh  line  of  Rebel  Infantry 
began  to  advance  on  us  from  our  left  front.  We  seem  to 
have  had  orders  to  retire ;  how  they  came  or  from  whom  was 
not  apparent,  and  in  some  disorder,  but  without  panic,  we 
fell  back;  the  Color-bearers  becoming  separated,  one  part 
of  our  Regiment  rallied  by  the  State  flag,  while  another 
rallied  on  the  National  flag;  both  parts  were  shortly  after 
ward  reunited  on  the  left  of  the  ridge  where  Thomas  made 
his  final  stand  the  afternoon  of  that  second  day  of  hard  fight 
ing.  Our  Regiment,  as  with  all  the  regiments  which  were 
gathered  there,  was  sadly  reduced  in  numbers,  many  having 
fallen — killed  or  wounded. 

"A  mere  boy,  who  did  not  seem  to  be  more  than  fifteen 
years  of  age,  of  what  regiment  or  State  I  cannot  now  tell, 
came  to  my  company  and  taking  his  place  in  the  ranks,  said : 
'  Captain,  I  have  lost  my  own  regiment,  may  I  not  stay  and 
fight  with  yours?'  The  slight,  slim  youth  was  received 
with  a  smile,  while  a  thought  flashed  back  to  '  God's  country, ' 
and  I  wondered  if  some  fond  mother  there,  with  continually 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  235 

ebbing  and  flowing  hopes  and  fears,  was  not  waiting  for 
tidings  of  her  darling  soldier  boy.  We  were  placed  in  sup 
port  of  a  battery  on  the  left  of  the  ridge  which  was  firing  at 
masses  of  the  enemy  dimly  visible  off  in  the  woods,  but  there 
were  unseen  enemies  nearer  who  were  picking  off  the  gun 
ners  and  our  men,  and  suddenly  I  heard  the  stranger  ex 
claim:  'They  have  shot  me!'  laying  a  peculiar  emphasis 
on  the  me,  as  if  he  had  thought  that  could  hardly  be  possible. 
How  badlly  he  was  wounded  I  never  knew;  but  it  made  my 
heart  ache  to  think  that  the  dear  young  chap  had  to  be  left, 
perhaps  to  die  without  a  hand  to  help  or  voice  to  soothe,  while 
friends  and  relatives  would  have  felt  it  a  never  ending  source 
of  satisfaction  could  that  have  diminished  his  sufferings. 

"This  was  where  General  Thomas  made  his  final  stand 
on  that  hard-fought  field.  The  Right  and  Center  of  the 
army  were  scattered  and  broken,  and  Rosecrans  himself,  with 
the  fragments,  was  borne  away  towards  Chattanooga;  but 
Thomas,  like  a  rock,  stood  in  front  of  the  advancing  foe. 
Every  man  with  him  was  a  soldier  tried  and  true,  and  Bragg 
dared  not  to  pass  in  pursuit  of  the  fugitive  and  broken  masses 
for  Thomas  would  have  fallen  at  once  on  his  flank  and  rear. 
The  enemy  dared  not  advance  too  far  without  first  crushing 
our  line,  and  time  and  again  they  made  that  effort,  but  were 
as  often  driven  back.  The  September  sun  was  getting  low, 
there  was  a  lull  in  the  battle,  the  Confederates  were  organ 
ized  for  the  last  desperate  assault.  On  the  Union  side  anx 
ious  eyes  were  cast  at  the  sun,  and  the  silent  prayer  of  those 
tried  and  worn  soldiers  was  hke  to  Wellington's  '  God  send 
night,  or  Blucher!'  and,  as  if  in  answer  to  that  prayer,  away 
down  the  valley  on  the  left  the  sheen  of  arms  in  the  declining 
light  is  seen.  Eyes  are  strained  in  that  direction  and  mov 
ing  masses  of  blue  begin  to  be  discerned  dimly.  Nobly 
they  come  on ;  a  thin  line  of  skirmishers  is  seen  in  front ;  and 
grand  the  columns  move  as  if  on  parade.  The  word  is  passed 


236  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

'  It  is  Burnside  from  Knoxville ! '  and  a  wild  shout  of  welcome 
bursts  from  these  heroes  on  the  hill;  and  away  off  yonder 
in  the  valley  the  waving  of  the  Colors  seem  to  give  answer  to 
our  huzzas. 

"  Realizing  that  at  last  a  strong  effort  must  be  made  to 
overwhelm  his  stubborn  foe  before  these  reinforcements 
arrived,  the  Confederates  dashed  fiercely  forward,  and  our 
wearied  men,  with  ammunition  almost  gone,  braced  them 
selves  for  the  terrible  onslaught.  Officers  are  busy  distribut 
ing  cartridges,  taking  from  those  who  can  spare  and  giving  to 
them  who  need,  Bragg's  force  now  presses  against  our  whole 
front  and  overlaps  our  flanks.  There  is  a  loud  and  inces 
sant  booming  of  artillery  and  rattle  of  musketry.  Our  line 
bends  and  sways  as  parts  are  driven  in  by  the  enemy,  who 
in  turn  are  driven  back.  There  is  a  long  hollow  or  ravine 
leading  up  into  about  the  center  of  our  position  and  masses  of 
the  foe  are  pushed  through  it.  The  Union  soldiers  there  are 
breaking  and  the  enemy  are  pouring  into  the  gap,  when  those 
reinforcements  under  Granger — it  was  he,  not  Burnside,  who 
had  come  to  the  aid  of  Thomas — were  thrown  into  the  gap 
and  nobly  they  did  their  work.  Even  yet  I  seem  to  hear 
the  awful  crash  of  arms  as  they  stem  that  inflowing  tide  of 
Rebel  hosts  and  send  it  rolling  back  upon  itself.  For  a 
time,  I  cannot  tell  how  long,  for  every  instant  was  crowded 
with  events,  the  tide  of  war  broke  and  gathered  along  that 
wooded  though  open  ridge.  Union  Flag  and  Southern 
cross  nodded  defiance,  so  close  sometimes  that  the  staffs 
if  extended  could  almost  touch.  On  the  extreme  left  Rebels 
are  working  around  to  our  rear;  a  flank  fire  is  opened  on  us, 
and  the  Boys  in  Blue  are  sullenly  giving  away,  but  only  a 
short  distance,  however.  They  turn  and  stand  at  bay 
again.  A  little  band — I  think  it  was  an  Ohio  regiment- 
makes  a  charge  on  our  left,  bearing  the  National  Flag  in 
front.  The  Colors  of  the  Nineteenth  are  seized  by  an 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  237 

officer,  and  he,  with  the  Ohio  Color  bearer,  dash  to  where  the 
Confederate  colors  stand;  and  to  these  sudden  movements 
there  is  immediate  response  by  our  regiment.  For  an  in 
stant  Confederate  and  Union  standards  might  have  min 
gled  folds,  but  for  an  instant  only,  as  the  awful  suspense 
is  quickly  over.  The  balance  so  evenly  poised  is  turned. 
The  enemy 's  flag  is  lowered  in  haste  and  rapidly  but  bravely 
carried  away;  but  not  all  its  defenders  go  with  it,  for  thickly 
are  strewn  the  wounded  and  the  dead.  We  heard  that  these 
were  Longstreet's  men;  indeed  the  wounded  told  us  so;  and 
this  we  knew,  that  they  had  made  a  desperate  charge  and 
a  most  determined  stand. 

" Along  the  whole  line  the  Confederates  have  now  retired, 
and  it  may  be  said  that  the  fight  is  over.  The  sun  is  down 
and  darkness  is  gathering.  The  soldier  is  hungry  and  weary. 
He  has  perhaps  an  empty  haversack,  but  he  would  fain  lay 
down  and  sleep.  Yes,  sleep,  although  still  under  the  guns  of 
his  enemy  and  among  the  dead  and  the  dying.  We  know 
not  yet  that  our  army  is  shattered;  we  know  not  that  the 
Right  and  Center  are  broken  and  are  miles  away  in  Chatta 
nooga.  We  think  of  renewing  in  the  morning  the  fight  with 
these  obstinate  'Johnnie  Rebs'  and  driving  them  farther 
down  into  Dixie,  as  we  did  at  Murfreesboro,  and  on  other 
fields  where,  like  now,  the  rebel  onslaught  had  been  fierce 
for  the  Union  host  to  bear,  yet  in  the  end  Northern  deter 
mination  had  proved  too  much  for  Southern  bravery.  But 
dark  suspicion  crosses  the  mind  when  we  see  our  cannon 
with  muffled  wheels  begin  moving  in  silence  to  the  rear 
and  when,  soon  afterwards,  the  word  is  passed  softly  and  low 
'Fall  in  quietly.'  The  lines  fall  off  away  from  the  enemy 
and  orders  are  given  to  let  no  man  leave  the  ranks  on  any 
excuse,  and  to  carry  every  comrade  along  who  is  able  to 
travel,  without  regard  to  company,  regiment,  or  arm  of 
service.  Wearily  and  silently,  but  steadily,  the  shattered 


238  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

and  mixed  columns  march  for  Rossville  Gap,  and  before 
midnight  our  stopping  place  is  reached.  There,  between 
the  ridges  of  what  seemed  to  be  a  cornfield  (the  ground  is 
stripped  and  bare)  we  find  sweet,  refreshing  rest,  and  sleep 
and  dream  of  love  and  home. " 

Early  on  the  morning  of  February  21,  General  Forrest 
made  a  reconnaissance  in  the  direction  of  Rossville,  but  was 
checked  and  driven  off ;  he  then  reported  that  a  large  part  of 
the  Union  force  was  stationed  at  the  Gap,  that  the  road  to 
Chattanooga  was  covered  with  fugitives,  and  he  urged  im 
mediate  pursuit,  exclaiming  that  "every  hour  is  worth  a 
thousand  men."  But  Bragg  made  no  general  forward 
movement;  and  that  night  Thomas  marched  safely  into 
Chattanooga.  A  few  days  later  when  Bragg  advanced  he 
found  the  town  already  so  strongly  fortified  that  he  con 
sidered  it  most  imprudent  to  make  an  assault  on  our  posi 
tion  but  drew  an  armed  line  around  it,  then  sat  down  to  starve 
us  out. 

Comrade  John  Young,  of  Company  E,  was  Lieutenant 
in  command  of  Company  C  at  Chickamauga.  The  second 
day  he  was  seriously  wounded,  and,  in  the  language  of 
Bret  Harte,  the  subsequent  proceedings  interested  him  no 
more.  But  he  has  communicated  some  of  his  recollections 
as  follows : 

uThe  most  severe  ordeal  in  a  soldier's  experience  is  not 
always  met  in  the  stirring  operations  of  a  sharp  engagement. 
The  excitement  and  active  duties  imposed  in  action  do  not 
give  time  for  reflection.  The  incident  which  follows  was  to 
me  the  most  trying  of  all  that  occurred  during  this  campaign. 
I  was  in  command  of  Company  C  during  the  Battle  of 
Chickamauga.  My  comrades  will  remember  that  after  the 
fierce  engagement  of  Saturday,  September  19,  1863,  the 
Regiment  was  ordered  further  to  the  left;  and  early  in  the 
evening  we  pushed  into  position  in  open  timber,  after  severe 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  239 

skirmishing,  which  continued  till  a  late  hour.  Here  we 
bivouacked  for  the  night.  Soon  after  daylight  next  morning 
I  was  ordered  with  my  company  to  relieve  Company  D  on 
the  skirmish  line.  There  was  a  slight  ridge  on  our  front, 
the  skirmish  or  picket  line  being  posted  so  we  could  not  see 
over  or  beyond  the  elevation.  Soon  after  taking  position, 
Adjutant  Bangs  came  to  inform  me  that  the  Regiment  was 
ordered  to  withdraw  from  the  line  held  during  the  night, 
but  I  was  to  hold  the  skirmish  line  till  driven  in,  or  relieved. 
There  were  no  troops  in  sight  on  our  right,  and,  as  I  recollect, 
the  line  on  our  left  was  some  distance  off. 

"  Shortly  after  the  Regiment  retired  the  Rebels  moved  a 
large  force  immediately  in  our  front,  The  intervening 
ridge  and  timber  on  the  other  side  prevented  our  seeing 
them.  The  battle  of  Sunday  had  not  yet  opened,  and  an 
oppressive  stillness  was  over  everything.  We  were  sud 
denly  startled  by  ringing  words  of  command  being  given 
to  the  Rebel  force  opposite ;  every  order  came  clear  and  dis 
tinct  over  the  ridge,  we  could  hear  the  rattle  of  their  accoutre 
ments  as  they  moved  into  position.  We  expected  them 
every  moment  to  appear  over  the  elevation.  It  seemed  a  hope 
less  task  to  attempt  resistance  to  such  a  force  as  we  knew 
were  near,  and  especially  so  when  all  our  supports  had  been 
withdrawn;  with  no  troops  in  sight  to  retire  on.  I  looked 
along  the  thin  blue  line;  every  man  was  in  position,  covered 
by  such  protection  as  only  veteran  soldiers  could  make  avail 
able  when  on  the  skirmish  line.  The  suspense  was  intense; 
the  strain  more  trying  than  in  the  heavy  fighting  which 
soon  followed. 

"For  some  reason  the  enemy  did  not  advance,  and  pres 
ently  we  were  gladdened  at  the  approach  of  a  brigade  of 
Michigan  troops  who  formed  on  our  right;  a  little  later 
still  more  pleased  when  Adjutant  Bangs  rode  up  and 
gave  orders  to  withdraw  the  skirmishers,  telling  me  at  the 


240  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

same  time  where  to  rejoin  the  Regiment.  This  move  was 
accomplished  without  loss,  and  after  a  short  march  we  were 
again  with  our  comrades.  In  the  meantime,  the  great  battle 
of  Sunday  had  opened  on  the  Left,  and,  like  a  great  wave, 
it  surged  along  with  indescribable  fierceness  until  our  position 
was  reached.  Soon  thereafter  we  were  hotly  engaged,  fol 
lowing  up  the  advantage  gained  by  charging  the  enemy's 
line,  which  move  resulted  in  the  capture  of  the  Rebel  Gen 
eral  Adams,  with  a  large  portion  of  his  brigade.  Company  C 
went  into  action  that  morning  with  thirty-two  muskets.  In 
the  charge  referred  to  it  lost  in  killed  and  wounded  sixteen 
men.  A  little  later,  when  in  front  of  our  line  observing  the 
movements  of  a  large  force  crossing  our  front,  but  some 
distance  off,  I,  myself,  was  wounded,  thus  ending  my  partic 
ipation  in  this,  one  of  the  greatest  and  most  fiercely  contested 
battles  of  modern  times." 

Captain  David  F.  Bremner  commanding  Company  E— 
no  man  among  the  survivors  of  our  Regiment  knows  more, 
perhaps  none  so  much,  about  this  battle  as  he — writes  as 
follows : 

" Stanley's  Brigade  was  moved  from  its  position  in  line,  by 
order  of  General  Negley,  between  nine  and  ten  o'clock  on 
Sunday  morning,  to  the  left  and  went  into  action  near 
Kelley's  field,  reinforcing  and  supporting  General  Beatty's 
Brigade,  then  heavily  engaged  with  the  Confederates. 
Immediately  on  coming  into  line  we  went  into  action,  driving 
Adam's  Brigade  back  in  confusion,  the  General  and  his  staff 
falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Nineteenth.  Being  reinforced, 
the  enemy  renewed  the  attack,  and  our  Brigade  was  compelled 
to  yield,  which  it  did  slowly,  halting  at  intervals,  while 
presenting  a  good  front  to  the  foe,  until  it  took  position  next 
to  some  log  buildings  on  the  brow  of  Snodgrass  Hill,  near 
the  Rossville  Road.  The  Confederates  soon  began  a  fierce 
and  determined  assault  upon  this  position,  defended,  as  it 


Lieut.  John  Young,  Co.  E. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  241 

was,  by  part  of  Battery  I,  Fourth  United  States  Artillery, 
Lieutenant  Smith  commanding,  which  did  its  duty  well, 
supported  by  our  Brigade,  and  scattered  fragments  from  the 
Eighty-second  Indiana,  Tenth  and  Fourth  Kentucky,  and 
Fourteenth  Ohio  regiments. 

"It  was  here  that  Colonel  Stanley  was  wounded,  where 
upon  command  of  our  Brigade  devolved  on  Colonel  Stoughton 
of  the  Eleventh  Michigan,  who  &ays  in  his  official  report: 
'I  advanced  my  command  about  fifty  yards  and  drove  the 
enemy  from  our  immediate  front.'  The  Brigade  was  then 
moved  West  to  the  Snodgrass  house,  and,  passing  in  the  rear 
of  it,  advanced  to  the  hill  south,  of  the  house,  arriving  there 
in  time  to  join  in  repulsing  an  attack  then  being  made.  The 
regiments  were  then  placed— the  Nineteenth  Illinois  on 
the  right,  the  Eleventh  Michigan  on  the  left— along  the 
crest  of  the  hill,  where  they  constructed  rude  breastworks. 
It  was,  "  continues  Captain  Bremner,  "the  only  organized 
brigade  on  that  part  of  the  hill,  although  many  men  and 
officers  from  other  regiments  which  had  fallen  back  joined 
in  and  did  noble  service  during  the  entire  afternoon — every 
attempt  to  take  the  hill  and  every  attack  was  repulsed. 
The  assault  by  the  rebels  between  four  and  five  o'clock  was 
most  desperate.  The  foe  succeeding  in  forcing  back  a  part 
of  the  left  of  the  Nineteenth  and  the  right  of  the  Eleventh, 
advancing  to  the  rail  breastworks.  There  was  no  confusion 
in  the  ranks  of  the  troops  forced  back,  however,  nor  did 
they  retire  over  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet.  The  Eighteenth 
Ohio  immediately  advanced,  and  with  its  help  we  soon  re 
gained  the  line,  which  the  Confederates  had  held  not  to 
exceed  twenty  minutes,  if  that  long.  Nor  did  they  at  any 
time  advance  beyond  the  rails. 

"We  maintained  this  recovered  position  until  after  dark, 
and  there  we  repulsed  all  the  numerous  assaults  made  by 
the  enemy.  Lieutenant  Smith's  battery  was  on  our  left 


242  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

and  Marker's  Brigade  on  the  left  of  the  artillery.  After 
some  little  time  a  volley  passed  over  us  from  the  right, 
whereupon  Colonel  Raffen  instructed  Captain  Campbell  to 
go  over  and  warn  whoever  it  was,  that  they  were  firing  on 
their  friends.  Our  men  also  called  out  loudly  for  them  to 
cease  firing  on  friends,  and  only  the  one  volley  was  fired. 
Captain  Campbell  speedily  returned  and  reported  that  the 
enemy  was  in  possession  of  that  point.  The  moon  which 
had  been  shining,  had  now  set,  and  everything  was  dark 
when  orders  came  to  retire.  I  could  not  say  of  my  own  per 
sonal  knowledge  at  what  hour  we  left,  as  I  did  not  consult 
my  watch;  but  from  the  time  the  volley  passed  over  our 
heads  there  was  no  more  firing  along  the  ridge,  nor  was  there 
any  as  we  retired.  The  monthly  report  of  the  Nineteenth 
Illinois  says  that  'about  eight  o'clock  P.  M.,  after  the  enemy's 
fire  had  ceased  for  more  than  an  hour,  the  Regiment  retired 
from  the  hills  with  the  other  troops,  silently  and  in  good 
order,  and  bivouacked  at  Rossville  at  eleven  P.  M.' 

"The  Battle  of  Chickamauga  successfully  closed  General 
Rosecran's  campaign  for  the  capture  of  Chattanooga.  I 
say  successfully,  because  it  was  the  objective  of  the  campaign, 
and  the  Confederates  were  defeated  in  every  attempt  to 
drive  back  Rosecrans  and  prevent  the  concentration  of  his 
army  at  Chattanooga.  True,  they  gained  a  barren  victory 
on  the  bloody  field  of  Chickamauga.  Bragg  never  would 
have  fought  there  had  he  not  hoped  to  drive  back  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland,  and  inasmuch  as  he  failed  to  do  this,  he 
was  defeated.  Rosecrans  took  and  held  the  city,  and  at  no 
time  after  did  Bragg  dare  risk  an  assault.  The  Nineteenth 
Illinois  did  its  full  share  of  hard  work  in  that  bloody  field, 
and,  with  our  comrades  of  Stanley's  Brigade,  held  its  position 
upon  Snodgrass  Hill  against  all  attacks  made  by  the  flower 
of  Bragg's  army  till  night  closed  the  struggle;  and  our  Bri 
gade  claims  the  honor  of  being  the  last  command  to  leave 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  243 

the  ridge.  Next  day,  at  Rossville,  it  was  again  in  line;  it 
repulsed  a  vigorous  attack  of  the  enemy,  and  held  the  gap; 
in  the  early  morning  of  September  22  it  reached  Chattanooga. 
Tired  and  worn  out,  but  still  full  of  grit  and  fight,  the  men 
bivouacked  in  front  of  what  was  later  called  Fort  Negley. 
In  all  my  experience  with  the  Regiment,  I  was  never  so  com 
pletely  used  up,  and  I  am  sure  every  one  in  it  was  the  same." 
In  the  Regimental  Report  for  September  already  referred 
to,  and  which  is  dated  at  Chattanooga,  October  6,  we  find 
only  two  hundred  and  sixty-two  officers  and  enlisted  men 
present  for  duty.  It  is  certain  that  a  few  of  these,  perhaps 
a  dozen,  had  rejoined  the  Regiment  from  an  absence  in  the 
North,  hence  it  is  clear  that  the  Nineteenth,  lost,  in  killed, 
wounded  and  missing,  an  average  of  one  man  in  every  three 
and  a  half  of  its  entire  force  in  the  great  Battle  of  Chick- 
amauga.  This  was  the  first  engagement  in  which  our  old  com 
rades  of  Company  G  fought  as  a  battery,  and  they  covered 
themselves  with  signal  renown.  They  fully  maintained 
the  standard  of  excellence  and  courage  which  their  old  Reg 
iment  had  held  from  the  start,  and  every  soldier  in  the 
Nineteenth  was  "glad  all  over"  when  he  heard  of  the  gal 
lantry  and  bravery  that  Bridges'  Battery  had  displayed  at 
Chickamauga.  It  was  there  that  young  Ferris  fell  with 
sponge-staff  in  hand,  nobly  doing  his  duty  at  his  gun;  and 
it  was  there  that  Lieutenant  " Billy"  Bishop  was  killed  with 
his  battery  boys.  In  his  death  every  man  in  the  Nineteenth 
mourned  the  loss  of  a  once  beloved  comrade. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

PAGE 

PREPARATIONS  TO  HOLD  CHATTANOOGA  .    .    .  248 

REORGANIZATION  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND  .  249 

CONDITION  OF  THE  ARMY  IN  CHATTANOOGA  .    .    .  251 

PRESIDENT  DAVIS  ON  LOOKOUT  MOUNTAIN   ...        .  252 

GEN.  GRANT  ARRIVES 256 

FACTS  ABOUT  THE  PLANS  TO  RELIEVE. 

BATTLE  OF  LOOKOUT  MOUNTAIN 258 

BATTLE  OF  MISSIONARY  RIDGE 260 

THE  HIGHLAND  GUARD   .  276 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  247 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Military  history  contains  many  a  page  descriptive  of 
brilliant  charges,  but  since  organized  armies  first  began  to 
hurl  themselves  against  each  other  in  determined  rushes  there 
was  never  another  such  magnificent  onslaught  as  that  which 
is  to  be  described  in  this  chapter.  MacDonald's  charge  with 
15,000  men  at  Wagram,  and  which  gained  for  him  the  honor 
of  Duke  in  Napoleon's  Empire,  was  over  easy  ground, 
while  that  of  Pickett  at  Gettysburg  was  made  across  nearly 
level  fields.  But  the  one  we  are  about  to  witness  will  be 
the  onset  of  18,000  soldiers  in  blue  uniforms  across  a  mile  of 
open  lands  protected  here  and  there  by  stout  rifle-pits,  and 
by  more  than  half  a  hundred  cannon  upon  a  mighty  up 
lift  at  the  farther  side  of  those  open  lands,  then  a  hard  climb 
up  a  steep  hill,  or  ridge,  from  three  hundred  and  ninety  to 
over  seven  hundred  feet  in  height,  which  feat  called  for  the 
putting  forth  of  all  the  physical  and  moral  strength  of  the 
charging  army.  Missionary  Ridge  will  ever  stand  as  a 
Natural  Monument  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland;  for 
upon  its  high  crest  the  soldiers  of  that  mighty  Union  force 
set  the  crown  of  its  immortal  fame. 

The  Battle  of  Chickamauga  was  a  thing  of  the  past,  and 
Rosecran's  army  was  now  in  a  city  overlooked  by  three 
great  altitudes;  the  one  known  as  Lookout  Mountain, 
the  second  as  Missionary  Ridge,  the  third  as  Walden  Ridge, 
on  the  other  side  of  the  Tennessee  River.  From  that  end  of 
the  Missionary  Ridge  range  which  rests  on  the  stream  above 
Chattanooga  to  the  end  of  the  Lookout  range  below  the  city 
is  about  fifteen  miles,  and  the  Confederates  could  now  be 


248  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

seen  along  this  entire  distance,  all  the  way  from  level  land 
to  nearly  three  thousand  feet  above  us,  thus  placing  the 
town  and  our  army  in  a  state  of  siege,  and  cutting  off  all 
communications  with  the  exception  of  an  inadequate  and 
very  muddy  road  running  along  the  foot  of  Walden  Ridge, 
down  the  Tennessee  River  towards  Stevenson,  our  base  of 
supplies,  fifty  miles  away.  From  this  position  in  Chatta 
nooga  we  could  see  the  full  length  of  our  own  and  the  Con 
federate  line,  spread  out  like  a  spectacular  scene  on  the  vast 
stage  of  some  theatre,  and  there  we  lay,  cooped  in  by  a  foe 
which  was  determined  to  force  our  surrender  or  starve  us  to 
death.  For  it  is  said  to  be  a  maxim  of  military  science  that 
the  army  which  can  besiege  a  position  can  always  capture 
it  in  the  end  unless  the  beleaguered  place  is  relieved  from  the 
outside.  The  tables  had  indeed  been  turned  upon  us  to 
our  great  discomfort,  but  not  for  a  single  moment  were  the 
soldiers  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  discouraged  or  dis 
mayed  beyond  endurance,  and  we  "held  our  grip"  on  Chat 
tanooga  with  courage  and  tenacity. 

As  soon  as  Rosecrans  reached  the  city  he  commenced  a 
formidable  line  of  fortifications,  under  the  skillful  direction 
of  General  James  St.  Clair  Morton,  of  the  Engineers.  These 
earthworks  were  of  such  a  character  that  Bragg  could  not, 
with  safety,  make  a  direct  attack ;  and  hardly  had  they  been 
completed  when  our  Brigade — the  Second  of  the  then  First 
Division,  Fourteenth  Army  Corps — was  assigned  to  camp 
on  Cameron  Hill,  an  elevation  between  town  and  river, 
rising  to  an  altitude  of  about  three  hundred  feet,  from  the  top 
of  which  was  a  comprehensive  view  of  all  the  country  around. 
The  seizure,  by  the  enemy  of  Missionary  Ridge  on  the  East, 
of  Chattanooga  Valley  on  the  South,  and  of  Lookout  Moun 
tain  on  the  West,  immediately  after  his  withdrawal  from  the 
field  of  Chickamauga,  confined  us  in  a  compass  of  terri 
tory  not  to  exceed  three  miles  square,  and  it  was  here  we 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  249 

endured  our  greatest  sufferings  of  the  Civil  War.  The  only 
possible  exit  was  by  a  pontoon  bridge  to  the  North  of  Chat 
tanooga.  But  Bragg  had  also  gained  possession  of  the  left 
bank  of  the  river  to  Bridgeport,  by  which  he  commanded  the 
navigation  of  that  stream,  and  of  the  roads  along  its  margin 
opposite,  at  the  foot  of  the  precipitous  heights  which  skirt 
the  Tennessee.  Our  army  was  thus  cut  off  from  direct  com 
munication  with  the  supply  stations  of  Bridgeport  and  Steven 
son,  and  this  compelled  the  transportation  of  what  little 
rations  and  fodder  could  be  secured  from  the  former  landing 
in  wagons  over  rugged  ranges,  by  way  of  the  Sequatchie 
Valley  and  Walden's  Ridge.  And,  so  weary,  hungry,  al 
most  completely  surrounded,  constantly  harrassed  by  can 
non  shot  and  shell,  we  lay  in  Chattanooga,  sternly  defying 
the  triumphant  foe  from  September  22,  1863,  until  the 
"cracker  line"  was  opened  by  the  coming  of  General  Grant 
and  large  reinforcements. 

Within  less  than  a  month  after  our  arrival  at  that  place, 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  had  been  reorganized  by  the 
authorities  at  Washington;  Rosecrans  was  made  the  scape 
goat  for  Halleck's  blunders,  and  the  "Rock  of  Chickamauga" 
was  placed  in  command  of  it.  When  this  reorganization 
took  place  the  Nineteenth  Illinois,  the  Eleventh  Michigan, 
and  the  Sixty-ninth  Ohio  were  still  together,  in  a  brigade 
which  included  the  Fifteenth,  Sixteenth,  Eighteenth  and 
Nineteenth  United  States  Regulars,  the  whole  commanded 
by  Brigadier  General  John  H.  King;  our  old  friends  and 
fighting  comrades  of  the  Eighteenth  Ohio,  with  gallant 
Stanley  at  their  head,  had  been  detailed  to  act  in  connection 
with  the  Engineers  and  the  Pontoon  service.  It  was  Octo 
ber  19th  that  George  H.  Thomas  was  assigned  to  command 
our  army,  and  by  reason  of  his  promotion  Major  General 
John  M.  Palmer,  of  Illinois,  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  Four 
teenth  Corps.  In  that  Corps  were  three  Divisions:  the 


250  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

First  (ours)  was  commanded  by  Brigadier  General  Richard 
W.  Johnson,  the  Second  by  Brigadier  General  Jefferson  C. 
Davis,  and  the  third  by  Brigadier  General  Absalom  Baird, 
all  of  them  belonging  to  the  regular  army;  Johnson  and  Baird 
were  graduates  of  the  Military  Academy  at  West  Point, 
but  Davis  had  been  appointed  from  civil  life  for  his  services 
in  the  Mexican  War.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  that  these 
three  generals  were  at  first  considerably  disturbed  in  mind 
because  a  volunteer  officer  was  appointed  to  the  command  of 
the  Corps,  but  one  thing  is  certain,  they  co-operated  with  the 
utmost  gallantry  and  good  feeling  ever  after  in  the  continued 
success  of  the  famous  Corps  which  "Old  Pap"  Thomas  had 
made  illustrious.  Just  two  days  before  Rosecrans  removal 
General  Grant  was  placed  in  command  of  the  Military 
Division  of  the  Mississippi,  which  command  embraced  the 
Armies  of  the  Tennessee,  the  Ohio,  and  the  Cumberland. 
Alive  to  the  danger  of  the  situation  of  our  army,  Grant  start 
ed  with  all  speed  for  Chattanooga,  and  when  he  reached 
Louisville  he  sent  this  dispatch  to  General  Thomas: 

"Hold  Chattanooga  at  all  hazards." 

The  reply  soon  reached  him:     "We  will  hold  the  town 
until  we  starve." 

That  telegram  applied  with  particular  emphasis  to  the 
Nineteenth  Illinois  and  the  Eleventh  Michigan,  because 
the  exigencies  of  the  situation  had  brought  them,  first  to 
half,  then  to  quarter  rations;  and  then  the  capture  of  our 
own  wagons  in  Sequatchie  Valley  by  the  enemy  left  us 
without  a  mouthful  for  two  days.  It  was  little  Joe  Wheeler, 
with  his  more  than  4,000  efficient  sabres  and  several  guns, 
who,  after  defeating  the  Union  cavalry  in  detail,  made  a 
dash  for,  captured  and  promptly  destroyed  the  provision 
train  which  we  were  so  earnestly  looking  for.  General 
Wheeler's  successful  expedition  at  the  end  of  September  and 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  251 

first  four  days  in  October  obliged  Rosecrans  to  put  his  com 
mand  on  scant  rations,  while  the  heavy  rains  soon  destroyed 
the  road  along  the  river  on  the  Walden  Ridge  side  and  we 
were  compelled  to  literally  live  from  hand  to  mouth,  and  were 
in  fact  actually  in  danger  of  starvation. 

The  question  of  short  rations  or  of  no  rations  at  all,  was 
not  the  only  thing  occupying  our  attention  just  then,  how 
ever.  The  Confederates,  being  in  possession  of  the  sur 
rounding  heights,  soon  put  all  their  artillery  in  position  and 
attempted  to  shell  us  out  of  Chattanooga,  and  as  we  at 
first  believed  this  firing  would  be  most  destructive  there  was 
the  very  dickens  to  pay,  no  doubt  of  it,  for  early  in  the  siege 
great  guns  up  on  old  Lookout  were  constantly  pestering 
us  with  shell  and  solid  shot,  but  in  due  course  of  time  we 
discovered  that  these  coming  missiles  could  be  traced  in 
air,  and  we  learned  how  to  dodge  them  so  skillfully  that 
little  harm  occurred.  Meanwhile  along  the  front  where 
the  pickets  were  posted,  "Yanks,"  as  the  enemy  called  us, 
and  "Johnny  Rebs,"  as  we  called  them,  were  becoming  quite 
neighborly.  Whenever  our  officers  were  out  of  sight  heaps 
of  trading — salt  or  coffee  from  the  boys  in  Blue  for  tobacco 
offered  by  those  in  Gray — went  on  unceasingly. 

So  there  we  lay,  not  completely  surrounded,  it  is  true, 
still  practically  so,  and  powerless  to  relieve  ourselves  in  any 
way,  busy  in  the  meantime  at  strengthening  the  earthworks 
of  forts  and  rifle-pits,  and  meanwhile  Famine  stalked  grim 
in  the  beleaguered  town.  Things  came  to  such  a  pass  that 
extra  guards  were  set  over  the  half  dead  horses  and  mules, 
that  they  might  not  be  robbed  of  their  very  small  allowance 
of  corn  which  starving  soldiers  were  not  above  stealing. 
There  was  but  one  line  of  communication  with  our  distant 
base  of  supplies,  only  an  unspeakable  mountain  road  across 
Walden  Ridge  and  the  lower  end  of  Sequatchie  Valley,  hub- 
deep  in  miry  mud  as  the  autumn  rains  came  on,  as  they 


252  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOTS 

did  in  October.  Up  and  down  this  dreadful  way,  where 
in  peace  an  empty  vehicle  was  a  load  for  a  team,  toiled  the 
miserable  cattle  which  were  dragging  the  wagons  that 
brought  us  a  few  stores  from  Bridgeport,  where  Hooker's 
troops  from  the  East  were  now  massed,  waiting  for  oppor 
tunity  to  get  forward,  and  much  of  the  time  these  wagon- 
trains  were  not  safe  from  Joe  Wheeler's  cavalry.  And  while 
we  were  thus  enjoying  life,  President  Jeff  Davis  came  on 
from  Richmond  to  look  us  over,  although  we  knew  nothing 
of  it  at  the  time.  Up  on  the  summit  of  Lookout  Mountain 
he  addressed  a  crowd  of  Confederates  soldiers,  whom  he  prom 
ised  that  the  hostile  army  in  the  town  below  should  not  long 
prevent  their  delivering  the  State  of  Tennessee  from  its  ene 
mies.  If  we  could  not  be  whipped  on  the  field  of  battle  we 
were  to  be  starved  to  death.  Perhaps  we  might  have  died 
of  hunger  but  for  the  keen  cold  air — that  and  the  fortitude 
and  patriotism  which  ever  strengthened  us —  had  it  not  been 
for  the  combat  at  Brown's  Ferry,  where  Turchin's  and  Ha- 
zen's  brigades  won  a  decisive  victory,  and  the  fight  at 
Wauhatchie — that  strange  phantom  battle  by  moonlight— 
which  enabled  the  army  of  the  Cumberland  and  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  (as  represented  by  Hooker's  men)  to  shake 
hands,  rejoicing  at  giving  and  receiving  timely  aid,  opened 
the  river  from  Chattanooga  to  Bridgeport,  and  gave  us  back 
life  once  more. 

And  we  are  reminded  right  here  that  it  is  necessary  to 
explain  the  coming  of  the  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Corps  to 
our  assistance  from  Virginia.  The  Army  of  the  Cumber 
land  was  hardly  settled  in  Chattanooga  when  Assistant 
Secretary  of  War  Charles  A.  Dana  sent  a  telegram  to  Mr. 
Stanton  in  which  the  latter  was  informed  that  unless  re 
inforcements  and  provisions  came  in  a  few  days,  perhaps 
ten  at  most,  would  starve  out  our  army  and  give  the  Con 
federates  control  of  the  western  gateway  between  the  North 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  253 

and  the  South.  It  was  then  that  Secretary  Stanton  made 
one  of  those  prompt  decisions  for  which  he  was  so  famous. 
With  President  Lincoln's  consent  he  ordered  Major  Gen 
eral  Joseph  Hooker,  with  16,000  infantry,  nine  batteries, 
3,400  horses,  but  with  no  wagon  train  and  ambulances, 
from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  to  proceed  to  the  help  of 
Rosecrans.  At  9:10  P.  M.  of  September  25  the  last  of  this 
force  had  left  Manassas,  Virginia.  Every  half  hour  a  fresh 
train  started,  and  the  great  caravan  of  locomotives  and  cars 
whirled  over  the  intervening  lands,  a  distance  of  nine 
hundred  and  ninety-four  miles,  to  arrive  at  Bridgeport 
within  nine  days.  Thus  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland 
was  reinforced ;  the  defeat  at  Chickamauga  was  soon  turned 
to  victory;  the  Confederate  power  of  the  West  was  perma 
nently  broken;  and  Sherman's  subsequent  march  to  the  sea 
was  made  possible. 

Extract  from  Gen.  H.  V.  Boyngton's  address  before 
Army  of  the  Cumberland  Society  at  Chickamauga  Battle 
Field,  1892. 

It  is  another  of  the  myths  of  history — which  are  as  thick 
about  these  operations  as  the  fogs  over  Lookout  in  falling 
weather — that  the  coming  of  Gen.  Grant  had  something  to 
do  with  this  opening  of  the  river.  True,  he  approved  plans 
which  he  found  perfected  down  to  the  smallest  details.  But 
these  would  have  been  executed  exactly  in  their  final  form 
and  time,  if  Grant  had  not  been  ordered  to  Chattanooga. 

The  general  plan  of  opening  the  Tennessee  to  the  vicin 
ity  of  William's  Island  was  Rosecran's  own.  The  details 
were  committed  to  General  W.  F.  Smith.  He  fixed  on 
Brown's  Ferry  as  the  place  for  throwing  the  bridges,  and 
General  Rosecrans  was  engaged  in  the  general  reconnoiter- 
ing  of  the  river  below  Lookout  the  day  that  the  order  for 
his  relief  from  the  command  arrived.  That  very  day  he 


254  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

had  ordered  Hooker  to  be  ready  to  move  up  from  Bridge 
port  along  the  south  bank  of  the  river,  and  that  night,  upon 
assuming  command,  one  of  General  Thomas's  first  orders 
was  to  direct  Hooker  to  be  ready  to  execute  General  Rose- 
crans'  last  order.  Grant  came,  approved  the  plans  already 
fully  perfected  and  gave  orders  for  their  execution — nothing 
more.  They  were  executed  and  the  line  of  abundant  supply 
was  open. 

It  is  now  possible  to  fix  the  responsibility  for  this  lack  of 
supplies  at  Chattanooga  where  it  properly  belongs.  When 
that  wonderful  transfer  of  the  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Corps 
from  the  Potomac  to  the  Tennessee  was  ordered,  General 
Rosecrans  had  a  right  to  suppose  that  upon  General  Hooker's 
arrival  at  Bridgeport  he  would  be  able  to  co-operate  at  once 
for  the  relief  of  Chattanooga.  Hooker  reached  that  point 
October  1,  and  the  same  day  was  ordered  by  Rosecrans  to 
put  down  his  bridges  and  make  immediate  preparations  for 
crossing  the  river  to  move  toward  Chattanooga.  Then  it 
was  found  that  he  had  no  wagon  trains,  and  so  he  could 
not  obey. 

The  finely  equipped  and  thoroughly  efficient  field 
trains  of  these  two  eastern  corps  had  been  turned  in  at 
Alexandria  and  orders  issued  that  new  trains  should  be 
furnished  at  Nashville. 

Report  of  Board  of  Officers  appointed  by  Secretary  of 
War  April  23,  1900. 

CONCLUSIONS  OF  THE  BOARD. 

" After  a  diligent  search  of  the  official  records  the  Board 
fails  to  find  any  evidence  that  General  W.  F.  Smith  was  the 
originator  of  the  plan  for  the  relief  of  Chattanooga,  Ten 
nessee,  by  military  operations  to  be  conducted  in  Lookout 
Valley,  October,  1863.  On  the  contrary,  there  is  abundant 
evidence  in  the  official  records  to  'show  that  the  plan,  which 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  255 

contemplated  crossings  of  the  Tennessee  River  at  Bridge 
port  and  at  the  northern  end  of  Lookout  Valley,  and  which 
was  successfully  executed  by  General  Thomas,  October  26 
to  28,  1863,  was  devised  and  prepared  for  by  General  Rose- 
crans  before  relinquishing  command,  and  that  its  execution 
was  begun,  under  orders  issued  by  General  Thomas,  the  very 
night  (October  19)  that  General  Rosecrans  was  relieved 
from  command  of  the  Department  of  the  Cumberland  and 
without  consultation  with  General  Smith. 

uThere  is  no  evidence  to  show  that  General  Smith  took 
any  part,  whether  by  counsel  or  by  action,  in  the  opera 
tions  conducted  by  General  Hooker  through  Lookout  Val 
ley,  from  the  direction  of  Bridgeport. 

"In  conclusion,  the  Board  is  of  the  opinion  that  the 
legend  complained  of  does  no  injustice  to  the  military 
record  of  General  W.  F.  Smith. 

"John  R.  Brooke, 

Major  General. 
"G.  L.  Gillespie, 

Colonel,  Corps  of  Engineers. 
"M.  V.  Sheridan, 

Colonel  and  Assistant  Adjutant-General. 
"The  Adjutant-General, 

United  States  Army,  Washington,  D.  C." 

"Upon  consideration  of  the  case  as  presented  by  the 
Board,  Secretary  Root  endorsed  the  record  as  follows : 

"The  proceedings,  conclusions  and  opinion  of  the  Board 
are  approved. 

"Elihu  Root, 

Secretary  of  War. 
"War  Department,  February  16,  1901." 


256  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

It  was  the  coming  of  Grant  that  opened  up  our  "  cracker 
line"  again,  he  having  adopted  the  plans  already  perfected 
by  Gen.  Rosecrans.  The  illustrious  General  arrived  at 
Stevenson  October  21st,  and  the  next  day  he  was  with  us  at 
Chattanooga.  Early  on  the  twenty-fourth,  accompanied  by 
General  Thomas,  he  visited  Cameron  Hill,  whereon  the 
Nineteenth  was  encamped,  to  obtain  a  view  of  the  enemy's 
position.  The  presence  of  these  two  great  men  soon  attract 
ed  the  attention  of  all  the  soldiers  thereabouts,  and  we  gath 
ered  around  as  closely  as  we  dared,  to  see,  if  not  to  hear, 
what  was  going  on.  It  may  have  been  the  hungry  and  nerv 
ous  look  of  our  boys,  in  part  at  least,  which  impelled 
Grant  to  say  to  Sherman  that  "Thomas's  army  was  so 
demoralized  by  the  Battle  of  Chickamauga,  he  feared  they 
could  not  be  gotten  out  of  the  trenches  to  assume  the  offen 
sive,  and  he  wanted  Sherman's  troops  to  hurry  up  and  take 
the  offensive  first,  after  which  he  had  no  doubt  that  of  the 
Cumberland  would  fight  well."  Right  there  before  him, 
however,  were  the  Veterans  who  had  stood  with  Thomas  on 
Horseshoe  Ridge  in  the  fiercest  tempest  of  bullets  and  shell 
ever  encountered  by  mortal  man  since  the  use  of  firearms 
began  without  losing  an  inch  of  ground — from  high  noon 
till  eight  o'clock  P.  M.  the  twentieth  of  September,  1863— 
and  who  were  destined  within  a  month  to  be  the  foremost 
to  reach  the  crest  of  the  neighboring  Missionary  Ridge  in 
the  grandest  charge  recorded  in  military  annals! 

We  were  hemmed  in  for  another  month,  but  we  were  never 
completely  without  food  to  eat  after  Grant's  arrival.  There 
was  a  fair  share  of  coffee,  almost  enough  of  hard-tack,  and  once 
a  week  about  half  a  ration  of  beef  was  issued  to  each  soldier. 
On  one  of  these  distributions  only  the  stomach  of  a  bullock 
fell  to  the  portion  of  Company  D,  and  not  a  single  man  of  us 
knew  how  to  prepare  a  dish  of  tripe!  We  were  not  wholly 
shut  out  from  news  from  home,  or  from  the  doings  of  other 


03 


o 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  257 

armies,  in  the  meantime.  Undoubtedly  food  was  scarce, 
but  we  managed  to  keep  our  health,  and  we  held  our  ground, 
which  was  the  main  thing  to  do.  It  is  a  fact  when  provis 
ions  were  scarce — the  health  of  the  troops  was  at  the  best. 
Money  was  plentiful  with  us  in  those  days  of  restraint  and 
hungry  spells.  Before  starting  on  this  Chickamauga  cam 
paign  the  army  had  been  paid  for  several  months  due,  but 
it  was  impossible  to  get  rid  of  our  thirteen  per  while  clam 
bering  over  hills  and  mountains,  or  while  fighting  the 
11  Johnny  Rebs"  in  the  Valley  of  Death,  and  here  we  were,  in 
Chattanooga,  loaded  down,  so  to  speak,  with  Uncle  Sam's 
Greenbacks,  like  the  shipwrecked  mariner  who  saw  water 
everywhere,  yet  not  one  drop  to  drink;  with  us  it  was  money 
everywhere,  and  no  where  to  spend  a  single  " shin-plaster." 

Meanwhile,  at  evening  parade,  on  review,  or  strolling 
about  town  the  Union  soldiers  at  Chattanooga  were  gay 
and  comfortable,  but  out  at  the  front,  on  picket  duty, 
watching  the  foe,  they  had  to  think  of  a  true  life-and-death 
game  called  War.  Soldiers  on  that  picket  line  could  sleep 
very  little  at  night,  nor  could  they  kindle  fires  to  warm  them 
selves.  Dark  night  is  the  time  when  men  in  service  must  be 
the  most  vigilant  and  wideawake.  All  on  the  picket  line 
and  at  the  outposts  must  take  in  everything.  However 
tired  they  may  be  from  their  day's  work  at  night  they  must 
not  allow  even  a  flying  bird  to  pass  unnoticed.  Keeping 
their  heads  cool,  they  must  use  their  sight  and  hearing  for 
the  whole  army  behind  them,  with  the  utmost  vigilance. 
"Halt!  Who  goes  there?"  The  sentinel's  cry  adds  to  the 
loneliness  of  an  anxious  night ;  and  this  was  part  of  the  expe 
riences  of  the  Nineteenth  Illinois  at  Chattanooga. 

Sherman's  troops  did  not  arrive  until  the  fifteenth  of 
November.  Two  weeks  later  they  advanced  on  the  railroad 
tunnel  end  of  Missionary  Ridge,  while  the  day  before  Hooker 
was  doing  more  fighting  than  Grant  intended  for  him  to  do, 


258  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

and  that,  too,  above  the  clouds  \     " Fighting  Joe"  had  three 
depleted  Divisions,  one  from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  one 
from  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  one  from  the  Army 
of  the  Tennessee,  in  all  about  10,000  men,  in  his  attack  on 
Lookout    Mountain.     These    divisions    had    never    fought 
side  by  side  before;  and  it  was  the  first  time  that  western  and 
eastern  Union  soldiers  had  ever  fought  together.     In  that 
affair  Hooker  "made  good,"   and  in  all  the  days  which  have 
since    elapsed    whensoever    Chancellorsville    is    mentioned 
something  has  also  been  said  of  the   Battle  of  Lookout 
Mountain,  which  he  fought  the  day  and  evening  of  No 
vember  24,  1863.     The  next  morning  was  clear  and  frosty. 
The  clouds  had  vanished,  and  the  sun  rose  bright  and  daz 
zling,  while  twice  fifty  thousand  eager  eyes  were  turned  up 
towards  the  great  mountain.     And  over  its  sharp  outlines, 
visible  for  miles  and  miles,  high  up  there,  a  matter  of  nearly 
3,000  feet,  on  the  summit  of  Pulpit  Rock  where  Jefferson 
Davis  had  stood  only  a  few  weeks  previously  and  told  the 
Confederates  that  those  in  the  town  below  would  soon  be 
their  prisoners,  there  floated  on  the  morning  breeze  the  beau 
tiful  Stars  and  Stripes  which  all  of  us  were  offering  our  lives 
to  sustain.     Boys,  can  you  not  still  hear  the  mighty  roar 
of  cheer  after  cheer  that  the  soldiers  on  the  plain  below, 
themselves  great  dogs  of  war  struggling  in  the  leash,  sent 
up  to  those-  gallant  comrades  at  the  top  of  Lookout? 

At  about  noon  time  on  the  day  previous  to  Hooker's  spec 
tacular  affair  there  had  been  a  movement  which  at  first 
looked  like  a  review  of  part  of  Thomas'  army,  that  of  send 
ing  Wood's  Division  of  the  Fourth  Corps  to  gain  possession 
of  some  low  hills  south  of  the  town,  about  midway  between 
it  and  Missionary  Ridge,  and  occupied  by  the  Confederates 
ever  since  our  arrival^at  Chattanooga.  Orchard  Knob,  as 
the  main  hill  of  this  little  group  is  named,  was,  in  those 
days  a  rough  steep  uplift  of  say  one  hundred  and  ten  or 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  259 

fifteen  feet  in  height,  covered  with  a  growth  of  small  timber, 
rising  abruptly  from  the  Chattanooga  Valley.  It  was  against 
this  defended  hill  that  Wood's  division  marched ;  followed  by 
tremendous  rolls  of  musketry  and  the  roar  of  artillery;  and 
presently  rousing  cheers  told  the  surrounding  world  that  Or 
chard  Knob  was  occupied  by  Union  Soldiers.  Early  in  the 
morning  of  the  twenty-fifth  Generals  Grant  and  Thomas 
established  their  headquarters  on  that  hillock,  as  it  was  by 
far  the  best  point  from  which  to  view  the  movements  of 
the  entire  fighting  force.  It  was  from  thereon,  shortly  after 
three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  that  Grant  ordered  an  advance 
on  the  rifle-pits  at  the  base  of  Missionary  Ridge.  The 
guns  of  Bridges'  Battery  gave  the  signal,  and  the  men  in 
blue  dashed  forward  in  line  of  battle  by  brigades,  skirmishers 
in  front,  closely  followed  by  reserves  in  mass. 

The  big  siege  cannon  in  the  Chattanooga  forts  roared 
loudly ;  the  light  artillery  and  muskets  continued  the  mighty 
sound;  the  cheers  of  soldiers  mingled  with  the  awful  noise; 
the  rifle-pits  in  front  were  ablaze,  and  from  the  great  ridge 
the  enemy  poured  down  redhot  flames  of  death  and  destruc 
tion.  The  tremendous  battle  which  was  fought  by  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland  as  it  was  never  intended  to  be  fought  was 
on.  It  had  been  preceded  off  on  the  right,  at  the  East  end 
of  the  ridge,  where  Sherman  had  placed  his  Army  of  the 
Tennessee  the  day  before,  by  a  furious  engagement  which 
lasted  all  the  forenoon.  "Old  Tecumseh"  was  striving  to 
gain  ground,  but  he  was  doomed  to  a  great  disappointment. 
The  height  upon  which  he  stood  was  isolated;  a  gorge  that 
had  escaped  his  reconnaissance  intervened  between  it  and 
the  ridge  proper,  on  the  steep  opposite  side  of  which  the  Con 
federates  under  Hardee  were  strongly  posted,  and  to  whom 
a  large  force  of  other  troops  had  been  swiftly  sent  by  Bragg. 
Meanwhile  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  lying  in  the  open 


260  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

plain,  or  Valley,  were  waiting  patiently  for  the  expected  com 
mand  and  now  that  order  to  advance  had  come.  It  was  then 
that  the  Nineteenth  Illinois — we  had  been  on  picket  duty 
for  three  days — of  Stanley's  Brigade,  Johnson's  Division, 
Fourteenth  Corps,  moved,  with  all  the  other  regiments, 
to  an  attack  which  was  to  become  famous  in  the  annals  of 
modern  war.  Four  divisions,  in  all  perhaps  18,000  men, 
made  up  our  force ;  that  of  the  foe  was  about  25,000,  but  they 
were  stoutly  entrenched,  both  below  and  above.  The  ir 
regularities  of  the  ground  were  so  difficult  that  Bragg  had 
declared  a  single  line  of  skirmishers  ought  to  be  able  to 
hold  the  heights  against  the  entire  Union  Army. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  imagine  a  grander  theater  for  a 
battle  than  this  open  one  where  Union  soldiers  were  to  man 
oeuvre  against  the  Confederates.  From  the  frowning  mass 
of  Lookout  on  the  South,  to  the  north  where  Missionary 
Ridge  abuts  on  the  waters  of  the  Tennessee,  the  numerous 
elevations,  and  the  plain  nearly  two  miles  in  width,  afforded 
unusual,  not  to  say  unexcelled,  opportunity  for  the  pomp  and 
circumstance  of  war.  The  Union  force  arrayed  for  this  dead 
ly  contest  consisted,  on  the  right  of  General  Hooker's  com 
mand,  three  divisions;  in  the  center  Thomas  had  two  divi 
sions  of  the  Fourth  Corps  and  three  of  the  Fourteenth 
Corps,  under  John  M.  Palmer;  on  the  extreme  left  was 
Sherman,  who  had,  besides  two  divisions  of  the  Fifteenth 
Corps  one  from  the  Fourteenth  Corps,  and  John  E.  Smith's 
division  of  the  Seventeenth  Corps.  Grant  had  decided  to 
make  a  demonstration  in  force  with  his  center,  thus  hoping  to 
check  Bragg's  sending  troops  against  Sherman,  to  whose 
assistance  Howard's  two  divisions  were  promptly  sent. 
Baird's  division  occupied  the  left  of  Thomas's  line.  To  the 
right  of  Baird  came  Wood,  then  Sheridan,  then  Johnson; 
the  last  was  our  division.  It  appears  that  the  orders  were 
to  carry  if  possible,  the  first  line  of  the  enemy's  works,  that 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  261 

is  to  say,  the  rifle-pits;  there  to  halt  and  reform  our  lines. 
When  the  signal  was  given  the  Center  moved  forward  on 
the  double-quick,  a  long  line  of  bayonets  gleaming  in  the 
November  sunshine,  formidable,  unconquerable.  To  Grant, 
Thomas,  Granger  and  the  few  other  officers  and  men  on 
Orchard  Knob,  as  well  as  to  those  in  Chattanooga  and  upon 
the  great  ridge  itself,  that  movement  must  have  been  one 
of  the  most  wonderful  sights  ever  seen  in  war. 

Missionary  ridge  rises  to  a  height  of  from  three  hundred 
and  eighty  to  seven  hundred  feet  above  the  Chattanooga 
valley,  and  it  was  at  least  a  fifth  of  a  mile  from  where  our 
force  should  have  stopped  to  the  crest  bristling  with  cannon 
and  a  foe  in  solid  ranks  well  entrenched  behind  stout  walls 
of  fortifications,  and  from  whence  came  down  sheets  of 
destroying  flames  which  at  any  other  time  would  have  with 
ered  those  against  whom  they  were  directed.  Across  the 
wide  field  dashed  the  Union  soldiers,  nor  halted  they,  except 
to  catch  their  breaths  when  the  base  of  the  ridge  and 
those  rifle-pits  were  reached.  Then  on  and  up,  up,  ever  up, 
toward  the  crest  of  the  mighty  barrier !  No  hesitation  any 
where,  no  faltering!  None  drops  from  the  ranks  save  those 
whom  missiles  strike  down ;  and  whenever  a  Flag  happens  to 
fall  because  the  bearer  thereof  is  killed  or  wounded,  another 
hero  seizes  the  precious  emblem  and  carries  it  on  and  up 
ward. 

Pausing  occasionally  to  fire  as  best  they  can,  the  men  of 
each  division  push  ahead,  eager  to  reach  the  goal  where 
victory  of  endurance  born  awaits  them.  Hand  over  hand, 
as  it  were,  regiments  in  Blue  are  fighting  their  way  up 
wards,  not  always  shoulder  to  shoulder  as  becomes  soldiers, 
but  stumbling  over  fallen  trees,  rugged  rocks,  and  other  im 
pediments;  not  stopping  to  succor  the  wounded  or  to  note 
the  dead,  but  steadily  on,  up,  upward  still,  where  the  mus 
ketry  of  the  enemy  is  rolling  like  drums  whence  cannon  are 


262  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

sending  down  solid  shot  and  cannister;  spurning  the  dull 
earth  under  our  feet  as  we  follow  or  lead  the  Flag  and 
State  Banner  which  every  battalion  bears  aloft :  and  how  the 
colors  of  the  Nineteenth  flared  that  day  we  shall  see  presently. 
The  sharp  hum  of  bullets,  the  hissing  of  grape  and  can 
nister,  the  clash  of  accoutrements,  the  cries  of  " Steady, 
boys,  steady!"  as  we  rush  forward  and  upward;  the  half- 
whispered  words  of  comrades  passing  what  may  be  last 
messages  along;  the  groans  of  the  wounded — these  are  the 
sounds  we  hear  as  we  climb,  whether  in  marching  order 
matters  not,  so  long  as  we  drive  the  enemy  back,  and  still 
farther  back,  into  the  deep  woods  beyond  the  frowning 
ridge.  Run  and  shoot,  shoot  and  run,  both  toward  the 
enemy,  who,  meanwhile  is  mowing  the  blue  line  down  as 
the  farmer  cuts  his  standing  grain.  The  line  of  resistance 
becomes  all  the  stronger  as  we  advance;  for  by  now  the 
heavy  climbing  of  this  rugged  and  mighty  eminence  seems 
almost  a  thing  of  impossibility.  The  sky  is  partly  covered 
with  great  clouds.  Shell  and  bullets,  grape  and  cannister 
are  being  spewed  on  the  logs  and  rocks  around  and  ahead  of 

us  like  hailstones  in  a  dreadful  storm.    And  then the 

" Johnnies"  turn  their  backs,  leaving  batteries  on  batteries 
behind,  as  we,  the  victors,  clamber  over  their  fortifications. 
Now  Missionary  Ridge  is  ours,  and  Bragg's  army,  the  one 
that  led  us  such  a  merry  dance  at  Chickamauga,  overthrown 
and  broken,  is  in  flight,  leaving  the  dead  and  wounded  in 
Gray  to  the  care  of  those  in  Blue,  who  are  giving  vent  to 
their  satisfaction  in  loud  hurrahs,  some  of  the  dear  old  boys 
weeping  in  their  joy,  little  minding  that  in  that  one  hour  or 
so  of  assault  and  victory  twenty  per  cent  of  their  numbers 
had  been  lost.  And  now  the  Stars  and  Stripes  are  waved 
triumphantly  towards  Chattanooga,  and  towards  that 
group  of  commanding  generals  on  Orchard  Knob,  all  of  them 
amazed  as  they  never  were  before,  or  afterwards,  all  save 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  263 

one  to  whom  Grant  had  turned,  when  he  saw  us  start  to 
do  this  thing,  to  sternly  demand  who  gave  his  men  their 
order  to  storm  the  ridge,  and— 

" Perhaps  they  gave  it  themselves!"  was  the  reply  of 
"Old  Pap"  Thomas. 

Yea,  verily,  the  whole  Confederate  force  had  been 
routed.  Confederates  threw  down  their  arms  and  fled,  or 
were  taken  prisoners  in  thousands;  Bragg  himself  narrowly 
escaped  capture.  And  so  it  came  about  that  on  the  late 
afternoon  of  September  25,  1863,  Hon.  Charles  A.  Dana, 
then  Assistant  Secretary  of  War,  and  with  the  party  on  Or 
chard  Knob,  wired  President  Lincoln:  "Glory  to  God! 
the  day  is  decisively  ours.  Missionary  Ridge  has  just  been 
carried  by  the  magnificent  charge  of  Thomas's  troops  and 
the  rebels  routed." 

Back  soon  came  to  him  and  us  this  reply:  uThe 
patient  endurance  and  spirited  valor  exhibited  by  command 
ers  and  men  in  the  last  great  feat  of  arms  which  has  crowned 
our  cause  with  such  glorious  success,  is  making  all  of  us  here 
hero  worshippers." 

Read  what  the  ever  gallant  and  courageous  confederate 
General  John  B.  Gordon  says  in  his  "Reminiscences  of  the 
Civil  War"  if  you  would  have  an  unprejudiced  resume  of 
that  glorious  and  unparalleled  onslaught.  "Was  it  a  mis 
apprehension  of  orders,  was  it  recklessness  on  the  part  of 
those  seasoned  veterans  of  Thomas,  or  was  it  the  habit 
acquired  in  battle  of  never  halting  when  ordered  forward 
under  fire  until  their  lines  were  broken  against  the  solid 
fronts  of  opposing  forces?  General  Grant  was  amazed  when 
he  saw  those  lines  pass  the  rifle-pits  in  furious  charge  towards 
the  crest  of  Missionary  Ridge.  Both  Thomas  and  Granger 
denied  having  given  the  order  for  such  a  movement.  It 
was,  however,  too  late  to  halt  the  troops ;  and  most  fortunate 
for  the  Union  army  that  the  movement  could  not  be  recalled. 


264  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

Those  brave  men,  without  orders,  mounted  to  the  summit 
of  Missionary  Ridge,  leaped  into  Bragg's  intrenchments, 
piercing  his  lines  in  the  center,  doubling  them  to  the  right 
and  left,  forcing  the  front  in  confusion  to  the  rear.  The 
capture  of  6,000  Southern  prisoners,  52  pieces  of  artillery, 
and  many  thousands  of  stands  of  small  arms  was  an  irrepar 
able  loss  to  the  Confederacy.  Infinitely  greater,  however, 
was  the  loss  of  the  prestige  which  Bragg's  army  had  gained 
by  the  brilliant  victory  at  Chickamauga  just  two  months  and 
five  days  before.  Still  greater  was  the  loss  which  Mission 
ary  Ridge  inflicted  upon  the  Southern  cause  by  opening  the 
way  to  Atlanta." 

The  storming  and  taking  of  Missionary  Ridge  is  one  of 
the  greatest  feats  recorded  in  military  history,  and  we,  the 
surviving  members  of  the  Nineteenth  Illinois,  have  the  right 
to  be  proud  of  the  fact  that  our  Regiment  was  in  that  won 
drous  event.  Go  there  to-day,  attempt  to  climb  the  as 
cent  by  any  of  the  roads  which  lead  from  valley  to  summit 
of  the  ridge,  and  you  will  hardly  believe  it  possible  that  an 
army  of  soldiers  ever  got  up  its  broken  and  crumbling  face 
against  the  opposition  of  a  stubborn  foe,  yet  was  that  done, 
and  our  charge  without  order  up  the  beetling  hill,  before 
Grant  and  Thomas  standing  on  Orchard  Knob  a  mile  away, 
was  such  a  spectacle  as  few  human  eyes  have  ever  seen, 
and  as  few  human  beings  have  ever  participated  in  and 
lived  to  tell  the  story.  In  his  Official  Report  General  Grant 
says  of  that  charge:  " These  troops  moved  forward,  drove 
the  enemy  from  the  rifle-pits  at  the  base  of  the  ridge  like 
bees  from  a  hive,  stopped  but  a  moment  until  the  whole 
were  in  line,  and  commenced  the  ascent  of  the  mountain,  from 
right  to  left,  almost  simultaneously  following  the  retreating 
enemy  without  further  orders.  They  encountered  a 
fearful  volley  of  grape  and  cannister  from  nearly  sixty 
pieces  of  'artillery,  and  of  musketry  from  the  still  well-filled 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  265 

rifle-pits  on  the  summit  of  the  ridge.  Not  a  waver  was  seen, 
however,  in  that  long  line  of  brave  men.  Their  progress 
was  steadily  onward  until  the  summit  was  in  their  pos 


session." 


In  those  days  of  fifty  years  ago  there  were  some  famous 
war  correspondents  at  the  front,  and  among  these  was 
Benjamin  F.  Taylor,  an  inspired  writer  whose  prose  was 
poetical,  his  patriotism,  courage  and  enthusiasm  the  equal 
of  that  of  any  soldier,  and  his  accuracy  the  admiration  of 
all  army  officers.  Taylor  was  at  Chattanooga,  he  saw  this 
wonderful  charge  up  Missionary  Ridge,  and  he  thus  pic 
tured  the  scene  in  the  Chicago  Evening  Journal  of  that  pe 
riod:  "They  dash  out  a  little  way  and  then  they  slacken. 
They  creep  up  hand-over-hand,  loading  and  firing  and  waver 
ing  and  halting  from  the  first  line  of  the  works  to  the  second. 
They  burst  into  a  charge  with  a  cheer,  and  go  over  it. 
Sheets  of  flame  baptized  them.  Plunging  shot  tear  away 
comrades  on  the  right  and  left.  It  is  no  longer  shoulder  to 
shoulder.  It  is  God  for  us  all.  Under  tree  trunks,  among 
rocks,  stumbling  over  the  dead,  struggling  with  the  living, 
facing  the  steady  fire  of  20,000  infantry  poured  down  upon 
their  heads  as  if  it  were  the  old  historic  curse  from  heaven, 
they  wrestle  with  the  ridge.  Ten,  fifteen  minutes  go  by 
like  a  reluctant  century.  The  hill  sways  up  like  a  wall 
before  them  at  an  angle  of  forty-five  degrees,  but  our  brave 
mountaineers  are  clambering  steadily  on.  They  seem  to  be 
spurring  the  dull  earth  under  their  feet,  and  going  up  to 
do  Homeric  battle  with  the  greater  gods.  If  you  look  you 
shall  see,  too,  that  these  18,000  are  not  a  rushing  herd  of 
human  creatures,  but  that  along  the  gothic  ridge  rows  of 
inverted  A's  are  slowly  moving  up  almost  in  line  while  at 
the  advanced  point  of  each  angle  is  something  that  glitters 
like  a  wing — the  regimental  Flag.  And  glancing  along  the 
front  you  count  fifteen  of  those  Colors  that  were  borne  at 


266  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

Pea  Ridge,  waved  at  Pittsburg  Tending,  glorified  at  Stone 
River,  riddled  at  Chickamauga.  Up  move  the  banners. 
now  fluttering  like  a  wounded  bird,  now  faltering,  now  sink 
ing  out  of  sight.  Three  times  the  Flag  of  one  regiment  goes 
down.  Do  you  know  why?  Just  there  lie  three  Color 
Sergeants!  But  the  flag — thank  God! — is  immortal,  and 
up  it  comes  again,  and  the  A  moves  on.  Swarms  of  bullets 
sweep  the  hill.  The  rebel-  tumble  rocks  upon  the  rising  line. 
They  light  the  fuses  and  roll  shells  down  the  steep.  They 
load  the  cannon  with  handfuls  of  cartridges  in  their  haste. 
Just  as  the  sun.  weary  with  the  scene,  was  sinking  out  of 
sight  the  advance  surged  over  the  crest.  In  a  minute  the 
Flags  fluttered  along  the  fringe  where  fifty  rebel  guns  were 
kennelled.  What  Colors  were  first  on  the  mountain  bat 
tlements  one  dare  not  try  to  say.  Bright  honor  itself  might 
be  proud  to  bear,  nay  to  follow  the  hindmost.  Foot  by  foot 
they  had  fought  up  the  steep,  slippery  with  much  blood; 
let  them  go  to  glory  together." 

And  a  little  while  later  Taylor  also  wrote  to  his  Chicago 
paper:  "The  day  after  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge 
was  Thanksgiving  and  we  had  services  in  Chattanooga- 
sad,  solemn,  grand.  The  church  bells  hung  dumb  in  their 
towers,  indeed:  but  for  all  that  there  were  chimes  so  grand 
that  men  uncovered  their  heads  as  they  heard  them.  At 
twelve  o'clock  the  great  big  guns  at  Fort  Wood  began  to 
toll.  Chilians  said.  'Can  they  be  at  it  again?'  and  soldiers 
said.  "The  guns  are  not  shotted  and  the  sound  is  too  regular 
for  work."  I  hastened  out  to  the  fort  and  the  guns  chimed 
on.  A  dim  impression  I  had  received  before  brightened  as 
I  stood  upon  the  parapet  and  looked  over  the  scene.  What 
it  was  all  like  flashed  upon  me  in  a  moment.  The  valley 
was  a  grand  Cathedral.  Fort  Hood,  the  pulpit  of  the  mighty 
minister,  and  far  down  the  descending  aisle  in  front  rose 
Orchard  Knob,  the  altar.  The  dead  were  King  there,  far  out 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  267 

to  the  eastern  wall,  and  God's  chandelier  hung  high  in  the 
dome.  There  were  the  accents  of  praise  I  was  hearing; 
thirty-four  syllables  of  thanksgiving  the  guns  were  saying: 
'Oh,  give  thanks  unto  the  Lord,  for  He  is  good;  for  His  mercy 
endureth  forever.'  And  the  hills  took  up  the  anthem  and 
struck  sublimely  in;  from  Missionary  Ridge  it  came  back 
again,  'Give  thanks  unto  the  Lord.'  and  Walden's  Height 
uttered  it,  'for  His  mercy  endureth,'  and  Lookout  Valley 
sang  aloud,  'forever,  forever,'  and  all  the  mountains  cried 
'Amen!'  ' 

There  was  considerable  controversy  at  the  time,  and 
there  has  been  often  since,  as  to  which  regiment  or  brigade 
first  reached  the  top  of  the  ridge,  but  that  can  hardly  be 
of  much  consequence;  for  no  matter  who  may  have  first  got 
to  the  summit,  it  was  soon  cleared  of  the  foe,  and  through 
the  night  that  fell  after  the  battle  closed  Bragg's  beaten 
force  fled  Southward  into  Georgia.  The  losses  in  killed  and 
wounded  were:  Union,  5,477;  Confederate,  2,518;  and  the 
reason  why  we  suffered  most  was  because  we  were  so  thor 
oughly  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  entrenched  enemy.  How 
ever  words  and  figures  give  no  idea  of  that  unmatched  battle 
of  the  Civil  War,  which,  though  attended  with  small  com 
parative  loss,  was  more  important  than  many  bloodier 
fields;  and  seldom,  if  ever,  was  so  much  accomplished  in  so 
short  a  space  of  time.  How  it  all  happened  no  one  really 
knows,  and  we  never  knew.  About  all  we  realized  was  that 
we  had  gained  glory  enough  for  one  afternoon.  There,  on 
that  sky-bearing  crest  from  the  long  summit  of  which  an 
exultant  enemy  had  been  looking  hungrily  down  upon  us  for 
two  months  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  crowned  the  special 
work  for  which  it  had  been  created  two  years  previously 
in  a  grand  outburst  of  imperishable  glory ;  for  never  before 
had  so  great  a  mass  of  brave  and  determined  soldiers  stormed 
such  obstacles  to  beat  another  so  great  a  mass  of  brave  and 


268  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

determined  foes  into  utter  rout  and  maybe  you  who  are 
reading  these  pages  can  imagine  the  thoughts  which  swelled 
our  hearts  as  we  chased  the  enemy  back  and  back  until 
he  was  driven  beyond  the  bitterly  fought  and  bloody  field 
of  Chickamauga.  There  we  found  the  trees  shattered  by 
shot  and  shell  in  that  other  struggle  of  two  months  before 
still  white  and  ghastly.  The  bullet-mown  bushes  still  lay 
dead  and  withering,  where  they  had  fallen  in  September,  and 
thickets  showed  the  destruction  where  regiments  and  bri 
gades  had  madly  wrestled  in  the  game  called  war.  Broken 
wheels,  wrecked  wagons,  exploded  caissons,  carcasses  of 
mules  and  horses,  torn  equipment  and  clothing,  shattered 
muskets  and  broken  swords — the  ruined  remnants  of  about 
everything  which  soldiers  use  or  wear  were  thickly  scattered 
over  a  once  terrible  battlefield  where  the  heroic  work  of 
Thomas  and  his  Corps  had  saved  an  army,  and  which  was 
now  regained  by  those  same  troops  that  obeyed  and  fondly 
loved  the  only  unwhipped  commanding  general  of  the 
Rebellion. 

"What  thoughts  swelled  the  hearts  of  the  men  of  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland  as  they  chased  their  enemies  back 
over  the  bitterly  fought  field  of  Chickamauga  to  refuge  be 
hind  the  high  walls  of  Rocky  Face  Ridge !  Only  two  months 
before  Bragg  was  hurling  the  hosts  gathered  from  every  part 
of  the  Confederacy  upon  Rosecrans'  worn-out,  ill-arrayed 
force  in  a  supreme  effort  to  distroy  it,  recover  Chattanooga, 
and  restore  the  prestige  of  the  Confederacy.  .  .  .  Every 
step  of  these  November  pursurers  must  have  brought  back 
to  them  thrilling  recollections  of  when  the  Lafayette  Road 
had  been  the  battle's  fiery  heart  during  those  two  mortal 
days  in  September.  Every  rod  of  it  was  consecrated  by  a 
brave  man's  life  given  for  his  country.  Far  to  the  right, 
toward  Lee  and  Gordon's  Mill,  had  been  the  awful  tumult 
when  Longstreet  hurled  his  mass  of  20,000  men  through 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  269 

McCook's  then  disorganized  lines.  To  the  left  were  the 
rude  log  baricades  and  the  trampled  crest  of  Snodgrass 
Hill,  where  the  lion-hearted  Thomas  stood  all  that  Sunday 
afternoon,  with  Reynolds,  Palmer,  Johnson,  Baird,  Wood 
and  Steedman;  where  Longstreet,  Hill,  Breckenridge, 
Cheatham,  Buckner,  and  Cleburne  had  dashed  out  their 
men's  blood  like  spray  upon  the  rocks  in  fruitless  beating 
on  the  firm-standing  men  of  Illinois,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Wiscon 
sin,  Michigan,  and  Kentucky.  The  thin  covering  of  earth 
thrown  upon  the  hastily  buried  dead  had  been  shrunken  by 
the  Autumn  rains  about  the  mouldering  forms  until  they 
looked  like  clay  effigies  of  the  slain.  So  recently  had  the 
dead  fallen,  and  so  palpable  was  the  field  still  with  their 
presence,  that  it  seemed  they  must  be  yet  near,  somewhere, 
the  Confederates  to  bewail  the  failure  of  all  for  which  they 
had  died,  the  Union  soldiers  to  exult  over  the  complete 
triumph  of  their  cause."* 

John  Fiske,  in  his  "The  Mississippi  Valley  in  the  Civil 
War,"  and  Dr.  J.  K.  Hosmer,  in  his  "Outcome  of  the  Civil 
War,"  both  speak  of  this  brilliant  victory  as  one  of  the  most 
picturesque  battles  in  modern  history.  The  former  says: 
"The  immense  length  of  battle-front,  thirteen  miles  from 
Sherman's  left  to  Hooker's  right,  the  extraordinary  difficulty 
of  the  ground,  the  dizzy  heights  scaled,  the  grandeur  of 
the  scenery,  all  combined  to  make  it  a  wonderful  spectacle;" 
while  Hosmer  calls  attention  to  the  fact  that  of  all  the  bat 
tles  of  the  war,  this  was  the  only  one  in  which  our  most 
famous  four  Union  Generals — Grant,  Thomas,  Sherman, 
and  Sheridan — happened  to  be  all  engaged. 

Long  afterward  Colonel  J.  W.  King,  formerly  of  the 
Eleventh  Michigan — at  the  Battle  of  Missionary  Ridge,  it, 
with  the  Nineteenth  Illinois  and  the  Sixty-ninth  Ohio, 
formed  a  demi-brigade  under  command  of  Colonel  Marshall 

*John   McElroy  in  "Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  the  Great  Central  Campaign." 


270  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

F.  Moore,  and  the  several  regiments  of  Regulars  made  up 
the  rest  of  the  Brigade,  and  were  commanded  by  Colonel 
Stoughton — wrote  a  long  article  for  the  Chicago  edition  of 
the  Zouave  Gazette,  in  which,  after  mentioning  how  the 
Brigade  was  withdrawn  from  picket  duty  and  formed  in 
line  of  battle  with  the  other  troops  in  front  of  the  Rossville 
Road  and  fronting  the  Ridge,  when  the  forenoon  and  a  part 
of  the  afternoon  wore  away  in  suspense,  as  meanwhile  we 
were  hearing  the  guns  of  Sherman  far  over  on  our  left, 
he  says: 

"It  was  the  first  time  in  all  our  service  when  the  rank  and 
file  seemed  to  know  as  well  as  the  commanding  officers  what 
ought  to  be  done,  and  were  bound  to  do  it.  Grant's  plan 
of  the  battle  was  for  Sherman's  army  to  attack  on  the  left 
and  sweep  around  the  edge  of  the  Ridge  in  that  direction. 
Hooker  was  to  attack  on  the  Right  at  or  near  Rossville, 
while  Thomas's  army,  then  composed  of  the  Divisions 
of  Johnson,  Sheridan,  and  Wood — Baird's  Division  had  been 
sent  to  the  aid  of  Sherman — were  to  take  the  line  of  works 
at  the  base  of  the  Ridge  and  hold  them  until  further  orders. 
Had  Sherman  and  Hooker  succeeded  on  each  flank,  as  was 
expected,  the  rebel  army  would  have  been  doubled  up  like 
the  shutting  of  a  jack-knife;  but  the  former  did  not  accom 
plish  what  was  intended,  while  the  latter  was  delayed  in 
making  his  attack  on  account  of  the  destruction  of  a  bridge 
between  Lookout  Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge.  Of  the 
three  Divisions  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  Johnson 
was  on  the  right,  Sheridan  in  the  center,  and  Wood  on  the 
left;  later  in  the  battle  Baird's  Division  returned  and  joined 
Wood's  left.  Our  Brigade  lay  in  line  of  battle  in  the  woods, 
facing  an  open  field  in  front  of  the  Ridge,  until  an  Aide 
came  dashing  up  and,  saluting  its  Commander,  Colonel 
Stoughton,  said:  The  General  Commanding  sends  his 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  271 

compliments,  and  directs  you  to  charge  to  the  hill.'  There 
upon  the  Brigade  was  marched  obliquely  to  the  left  until 
it  closed  well  on  the  right  of  Sheridan's  Division. 

"By  this  time  we  had  gained  the  open  field  in  front  of 
the  Ridge,  then  'Forward,  double-quick!'  was  heard  in  a  clear 
ringing  voice,  and  'Forward,    double-quick!'  was  repeated 
throughout  the  Brigade,  almost  immediately  followed  by 
'March!'  and  the  whole  command  sprang  forward.     But  no 
sooner  had  these  troops  made  their  appearance  in  the  open 
field  than  they  encountered  a  terrific  fire  of  musketry  which 
came  from  the  well-filled  rifle-pits  at  the  foot  of  the  Ridge 
half  a  mile  away,  also  a  storm  of  shell  and  cannister  from  the 
top  of  the  Ridge  itself.     It  became  a  matter  of  life  or  death 
to  reach  and  take  the  first  line  of  the  enemy's  works.     In 
stead  of  continuing  at  a  double-quick,  the  men  of  our  Bri 
gade  passed  through  this  shower  of  leaden  and  iron  hail 
at  the  top  of  their  speed.     On  reaching  the  rifle-pits  they  were 
instantly  scaled  and  never  before  had  there  been  such  an 
intermingling  of  the  Blue  and  the  Gray.     Most  of  the  Con 
federates  threw  down  their  arms  and  were  made  prisoners; 
those  who  did  not  do  this  were  either  bayoneted  or  knocked 
down  with  clubbed  muskets.     A  portion  of  the  Confederates, 
when  they  saw  the  Union  troops  crossing  the  field,  ascended 
the  ridge  and  joined  their  comrades  who  were  still  in  posses 
sion  of  the  crest.     After  the  Brigade  had  remained  in  the 
works  perhaps  a  minute,  or  a  little  longer,  a  voice  rang  out  : 
'On,  up  the  Ridge!' — whose  voice  it  was  has  never  been 
known,  but  no  comrade  in  all  the  Brigade  will  ever  forget 
it.     These  words  were  repeated;  and  'On,  on,  up  the  Ridge!' 
seemed  to  come  from  all  lips.     Every  man  in  that  long  line 
of  Blue  seemed  possessed  of  a  spirit  to  be  the  first  upon  the 
great  crest  before  us. 

'  The  hill  swayed  up  before  the  Union  troops  at  an  angle 
of  more  than  forty-five  degrees,  and  nearly  three-quarters 


272  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

of  a  mile  of  rugged  mountain  side  must  be  passed  before  the 
summit  could  be  reached,  while  nearly  every  rod  of  inter 
vening  distance  was  swept  by  cannister,  musket  balls  and 
shell.  The  crest  of  the  Ridge  was  a  sheet  of  flame,  while 
higher  up  in  the  air  were  fantastic  wreathes  or  clouds  of 
smoke  from  the  -enemy's  musketry  and  artillery.  Their 
artillerymen  were  familiar  with  the  ground  on  which  their 
army  had  camped  for  two  months,  and  instead  of  trying  to 
depress  their  guns  and  shoot  straight  down  the  ridge  at  their 
assailants  they  used  them  at  right  and  left  oblique,  and  the 
air  was  filled  with  cannister,  musket  balls,  grape-shot,  shells, 
and  screeching  fragments.  If  the  order  had  not  been  given 
by  some  one  to  charge  the  Ridge,  the  plunging  fire  of  the 
enemy  from  the  crest  would  have  made  the  pits  at  the  foot 
of  tht  mountain  a  slaughter  pen  for  the  Army  of  the  Cum 
berland.  In  that  shower  of  death's  missiles  on  the  Ridge 
side  brave  men  fell  by  thousands,  mangled  and  crushed 
among  the  rocks,  stumps,  trees,  and  logs,  and  still  those  who 
remained  untouched  kept  fighting  and  clambering  upwards. 
Their  advance  was  not  only  met  by  a  deadly,  continuous 
fire,  but  the  mountain  side  was  covered  with  rocks,  fallen 
timber,  bushes,  and  ragged  ravines.  It  was  every  man  for 
himself,  and  thus,  by  taking  advantage  of  the  formation  of 
the  ground,  and  the  protection  which  nature  had  furnished, 
the  summit  was  finally  reached.  And  still  it  was  not  a 
rushing  mob,  for  the  Flags  that  appeared  like  stars  in  the 
sulphurous  smoke  of  battle  were  the  beacon  lights  to  keep 
each  comrade  in  his  regimental  organization. 

"  Three  times  the  Colors  of  the  Nineteenth  Illinois  go 
down.  Do  you  know  why?  Three  times  the  Colors  of  the 
Eleventh  Michigan  go  down.  Do  you  know  why?  There 
lie  six  dead  or  wounded  Color  Sergeants!  It  is  true,  the 
immortal  flags  went  down,  but  willing  hands  always  and 
swiftly  raised  them  aloft,  though  each  man  who  did  it  knew 


Capt.  David  F.  Bremner  and  Overcoat. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  273 

he  would  become  the  target  for  scores  of  balls.  While  the 
crest  of  the  Ridge  was  a  sheet  of  flame  and  a  cloud  of  smoke, 
all  up  its  sides  the  courageous  Veterans  of  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland  were  pressing  on.  Above  all  this  roar  and 
crash  of  battle  the  Union  siege  guns  in  Fort  Wood  could  be 
readily  distinguished  as  they  sent  their  huge  projectiles 
screeching  over  our  heads  into  the  Rebel  position,  exploding 
caissons,  tearing  to  pieces  men  and  horses,  and  causing  ter 
rifying  havoc.  But  this  firing  was  not  confined  to  the  Union 
side  alone,  for  more  than  seventy  cannon  and  twice  nine 
thousand  muskets  from  behind  substantial  breastworks  were 
sweeping  the  front  of  these  four  divisions  which  were  steadily 
and  surely  pressing  on.  Then,  as  we  neared  the  summit  of 
the  Ridge,  the  enemy  gave  way,  his  line  began  to  crumble  to 
the  left,  in  another  minute  we  had  gained  the  crest,  and  we 
saw  the  rebels  seeking  safety  down  the  Eastern  slope  of  the 
mountain.  Just  to  the  right,  however,  the  Confederate 
line  was  still  intact,  and  not  more  than  six  or  seven  rods 
away  was  a  semi-circular  earthwork  in  which  was  a  Con 
federate  Battery  of  five  or  six  guns,  that  was  still  being  used 
against  our  troops  farther  down  the  Ridge.  There  was  also 
a  support  of  three  or  four  hundred  Confederate  infantry, 
who  were  keeping  up  a  murderous  fire  on  their  coming  foe. 
But  when  this  detachment  consisting  of  the  Eleventh  Mich 
igan,  Nineteenth  Illinois,  and  Sixty-ninth  Ohio,  from  our 
Brigade,  got  so  they  had  clear  vision  of  the  Confederate 
gunners  behind  their  refuge  of  logs  and  stones,  we  made  it 
so  uncomfortable  for  them  that  they  abandoned  guns  and 
muskets  and  swiftly  sought  safety  down  the  same  slope 
where  their  comrades  in  Gray  had  preceded  them." 

We  come  now  to  the  personal  statement  of  an  officer  in 
our  Regiment  as  regards  this  memorable  and  most  wonder 
ful  battle.  Writing  to  the  Zouave  Gazette  of  January  31, 
1898,  of  the  Nineteenth  at  Missionary  Ridge,  Captain 


274  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

David  F.  Bremner  of  Company  E  introduces  his  communi 
cation  by  describing  some  of  the  conditions  which  existed 
in  Chattanooga  after  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  occupied 
that  town.  "  Night  and  day  the  men  labored  on  the  forti 
fications  and  in  a  short  time  a  complete  line  of  forts  and 
breastworks  enclosed  the  city  so  strongly  that  it  would  have 
been  madness  in  Bragg  to  attempt  its  capture  by  assault; 
in  fact  it  would  have  been  madness  at  any  time  after  the 
twenty-second  of  September,  although,  far  from  being  dis 
heartened  or  demoralized,  our  army  would  have  welcomed 
an  attack.  The  Regiment  now  settled  down  with  the  rest 
of  the  force  to  hard  work  and  short  rations,  submitting 
(while  claiming  the  soldier's  privilege  to  grumble  at  times) 
to  both  cheerfully.  Thus  the  time  passed,  alternate  picket 
and  fatigue  duty  keeping  all  active  and  interested  in  passing 
events. 

11  About  the  middle  of  November  the  grape-vine  dis 
patches  indicated  that  work  of  another  kind  was  soon  to 
begin,  and  that  the  long  looked  for  day  was  near  when  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland  would  run  the  'Johnnies'  off 
Missionary  Ridge.  On  the  twenty-second  of  November 
our  Regiment  left  camp  on  Cameron  Hill  and  took  position 
at  the  outpost  in  front  of  Fort  Negley.  Three  days  arid 
nights  were  passed  there,  and  the  men  became  quite  friendly 
with  the  rebel  pickets;  our  lines  were  very  close,  at  some 
points  being  only  about  fifty  yards  apart.  During  the 
Battle  of  Lookout  Mountain,  on  the  twenty-fourth,  the 
soldiers  on  both  sides  were  interested  spectators  of  that  ac 
tion,  till  the  settling  clouds  hid  it  from  view,  cheering  or 
chaffing  each  other  at  the  success  of  either  force. 

"The  morning  of  the  twenty-fifth  found  the  Confederate 
line  in  our  front  unoccupied,  the  soldiers  having  been  drawn 
back  during  the  night.  The  Nineteenth,  with  the  Brigade, 
was  moved  from  point  to  point  during  the  day  until  about 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  275 

three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  we  were  placed  in  line 
of  battle  in  a  wood  fronting  Missionary  Ridge,  and  here  we 
anxiously  awaited  the  order  to  advance.  Before  us  was  the 
Ridge,  its  summit  bristling  with  artillery,  whilst  lines  of 
rifle-pits  at  its  base  and  half-way  up,  manned  by  brave  sol 
diers,  confronted  us.  But  the  stern  faces  of  our  men  told 
that  they  were  determined  to  overcome  them  all  and  gain 
the  Ridge,  or  die  in  the  attempt.  Then,  about  half-past 
three  o'clock,  boom,  boom!  six  times  repeated;  the  guns  on 
Orchard  Knob  were  giving  the  longed-for  signal!  Forward 
dash  the  Boys  in  Blue ;  the  woods  are  soon  cleared ;  a  stretch 
of  half  a  mile  of  open  fields  lies  between  us  and  the  Ridge, 
and  there  is  no  cover,  no  protection  whatever  from  the 
storm  of  lead  and  iron  which  greets  us.  On,  on,  we  go;  no 
stop,  no  halt;  a  comrade  drops  here,  another  there,  but  the 
line  moves  on.  The  rifle-pits  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  are 
gained  and  most  of  their  defenders  are  taken  prisoners.  A 
short  halt  for  breath,  then  again  forward.  Up,  up,  steady 
and  sure,  to  the  crest,  over  the  breastworks — the  Ridge  is 
gained ! 

"The  Army  of  the  Cumberland  did  fight.  Aye,  did 
fight  and  did  conquer,  and  the  great  Confederate  army 
which  for  two  months  had  been  looking  defiantly  down  on 
Chattanooga  was  defeated,  driven  from  its  strong  works, 
and  the  heroes  of  Chickamauga  were  now  the  heroes  of 
Missionary  Ridge.  The  same  army  that  was  reported  to  be 
demoralized,  beaten,  and  driven  from  Chickamauga;  the 
same  army  of  which  Sherman  in  his  'Memoirs'  says  Grant 
told  him  'The  men  of  Thomas's  army  had  been  so  demoralized 
by  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  that  he  (Grant)  feared  they 
could  not  be  got  out  of  their  trenches  and  assume  the  de 
fensive.'  What!  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  not  fight! 
That  great  army  trained  and  disciplined  by  Buell,  Rosecrans 
and  Thomas!  Which  fought  its  way  from  the  Ohio  River 


276  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

to  the  Tennessee  at  Chattanooga,  and  had  never  been  de 
feated!  Which  had  gained  the  objective  point  in  every 
campaign !  The  army  that,  led  by  Buell  at  Shiloh,  snatched 
victory  from  defeat ;  which,  led  by  Rosecrans  at  Stone  River, 
held  the  enemy  so  stoutly  that  he  had  to  withdraw  from  the 
field  at  night,  the  army — half  of  it  at  least — which  stood 
with  Thomas  all  that  bloody  Sunday  at  Chickamauga,  and 
gave  back  blow  for  blow,  and  only  withdrew  after  night 
closed  the  unequal  combat,  and  Longstreet  did  not  dare 
attack  again !  Not  fight?  Grant  should  have  known  better." 
In  the  little  New  England  village  of  Newton  Center, 
Massachusetts,  where  the  Editor  of  these  pages  now  resides, 
there  stands  an  old  frame  house  on  the  main  street  wherein 
the  author  of  the  great  hymn,  "My  Country,  'tis  of  Thee" 
lived  and  there  he  died  a  few  years  back.  One  day,  in  his 
home,  while  awaiting  the  coming  of  Dr.  Smith,  we  took  up 
a  small  book  from  the  table  and  in  it  read,  for  the  first  time, 
an  original  poem  by  the  author  of  the  famous  hymn  just 
named,  which  was  entitled  "The  Highland  Guards."  It 
ran  as  follows: 

A  song  of  the  Highland  Guards- 
Souls  brave  and  true. 

Born  for  the  times  of  the  bitter  strife, 
When  in  the  balance  hung 
The  Nation's  life; 

And  men  inspired  to  dare  and  do 

Resolved  to  press  the  conflict  through. 


*For  writing  this  great  tribute  to  our  Regiment,  its  Color  Company,  and  Captain 
Bremner,  Dr.  Smith  was  unanimously  elected  an  honorary  member  of  the  Nineteenth 
Illinois  Infantry  Veteran  Club,  and  it  was  his  privilege  to  be  present  at  one  of  that 
society's  meetings,  in  after  years. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  277 

A  song  of  the  Highland. Guards, 

Prompt  and  prepared; 
First  to  espouse  the  righteous  cause, 

First  rising  to  defend 

The  land,  the  laws 

With  patriot  hearts  and  bosoms  bared, 
What  toils  they  bore !     What  hardships  shared ! 

A  song  of  the  brave  Nineteenth, 

Noted  and  known, 
With  them  the  noble  Highland  Guard, 

Eager  for  honor's  post, 

Kept  watch  and  ward, 
Foremost  for  deeds  of  glory  done, 
For  battles  fought,  for  victories  won. 

A  song  for  the  brave  Nineteenth 

And  Bremner's  band; 
Huntsville  and  Mission  Ridge  their  praise; 

How  oft  they  saved  the  day 

In  fierce  array? 

Victor  and  vanquished,  hand  in  hand, 
Mighty  to  fight,  of  firm  to  stand. 

A  song  for  the  brave  Nineteenth, 

Calls,  loud  and  long, 
Summon  the  bravest  to  the  front: 

"Where  is  the  old  Nineteenth?" 

Listen!  their  song! 
They  muster,  prompt  to  do  or  die, 
They  come!  they  strike!    The  foeman  fly! 


278  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

A  song  for  the  brave  Nineteenth! 

The  Colors  wave 

Where  shell  and  shot — a  cruel  rain- 
Smite  down — once — twice — again— 

The  true,  the  brave. 
The  men  who  bore  the  Flag  may  die, 
But  Bremner  waves  its  folds  on  high. 

There  is  a  story,  two  of  them  in  fact,  to  tell  apropos  of 
this  great  tribute  to  the  Nineteenth  by  the  immortal  author- 
poet.  From  an  article  written  for  the  Zouave  Gazette  of 
January  25,  1887,  by  Hon.  Edward  Roby,  whose  wife  was 
long  an  honorary  member  of  our  Veteran  Club,  an  organiza 
tion  still  in  existence,  and  which  has  led  many  a  National 
Encampment  Parade  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
we  take  this  extract:  " Company  E  (the  Highland  Guard) 
was  the  Color  company  of  the  Nineteenth  Illinois,  and 
David  F.  Bremner  was  in  command  of  it,  being  the  Captain, 
at  Missionary  Ridge.  In  this  advance  three  Color  bearers 
were  cut  down  by  the  bullets  of  the  enemy.  Captain  Brem 
ner  says:  'We  could  not  spare  a  rifle  in  that  battle;  if  I 
ordered  a  man  from  the  ranks  to  take  up  the  Flag  it  would 
silence  his  musket;  and  as  I  carried  only  a  sword,  I  took  it 
up  and  bore  it  on.  As  my  head  was  over  the  last  entrench 
ment  at  the  top  of  the  ridge,  the  rebel  officer  in  command 
pointed  at  me  with  his  sword  and  shouted,  " Shoot  that  man!" 
But  the  guns  of  my  own  company  were  close  at  hand  and  the 
rebs  had  no  time  to  aim.' ' 

But  Bremner's  overcoat  was  pierced  by  no  fewer  than 
fourteen  bullets  on  that  famous  occasion,  and  this  brings  us 
to  our  second  story.  It  is  told  editorially  in  the  Zouave 
Gazette  of  January  25,  1888,  as  follows:  "A  surprise  for  the 
members  of  the  Veteran  Club  and  our  Regiment,  which  we 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  279 

feel  assured  will  be  appreciated,  has  been  prepared  by  Com 
rade  Jacob  B.  Stanger,  of  Company  D,  and  will  be  sent 
with  this  number  of  the  Gazette.  It  is  a  photogiaph  of  our 
Comrade  Bremner,  taken  in  the  now  historical  overcoat, 
which  he  wore  at  Missionary  Ridge.  The  coat  is  pierced 
with  twenty  bullet  holes,  fourteen  of  which  were  received  in 
the  above  mentioned  charge.  Bremner,  it  will  be  remem 
bered,  was  in  command  of  Company  E  on  that  day.  Being 
the  Color  Company,  the  Regimental  Flags  were  in  his  special 
charge,  and  well  did  he  care  for  them.  The  Regiment  had 
not  proceeded  far  on  that  memorable  advance  up  Missionary 
Ridge  when  Corporal  Wm.  Patterson  the  Color  bearer  was 
killed. 

Patrick  McDonald  of  Company  K,  then  took  the  Flag, 
until  he  was  severely  wounded.  Sergt.  George  Steel  carrying 
the  State  Flag,  was  also  wounded  badly,  when  John  Bros- 
nahan,  taking  it  from  the  wounded  Sergeant  carried  it  to 
the  crest.  When  McDonald  fell,  Captain  Bremner  grasped 
the  Colors  and  brought  it  up  to  and  over  the  enemy's  works, 
amid  a  shower  of  bullets,  fourteen  of  which  went  through  his 
overcoat;  he  also  received  a  slight  wound  in  his  face.  Before 
that,  at  Chickamauga,  the  coat  had  been  loaned  to  Adjutant 
Bangs,  and  it  was  there  it  received  the  other  bullet  holes. 

Comrade  Bangs  lost  a  leg  at  Missionary  Ridge. 

This  incident  of  Captain  Bremner  and  the  Regiment's 
Flag  is  dealt  with  at  further  length  in  subsequent  pages. 

Just  a  few  more  words,  however,  and  then  to  close  this  chap 
ter.  As  stated  elsewhere,  we  lost  Company  G  from  the  Regi 
ment  after  the  Battle  of  Stone  River ;  it  became  one  of  the  most 
famous  batteries  in  all  the  Northern  Armies.  Its  name  will 
be  often  found  in  the  official  records  of  both  the  Union  and 
the  Confederate  operations,  and  always  with  distinguished 
credit.  After  Chickamauga,  where  it  covered  itself  with 
renown,  Bridges'  Battery  was  assigned  a  position  in  Fort 


280  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

Negley,  just  outside  of  Chattanooga.  And  of  this  fine  and 
unexcelled  organization,  Captain  L.  A.  White  wrote  to  the 
Zouave  Gazette  of  January  31,  1898,  as  follows: 

"The  succeeding  two  months  was  a  period  of  exceeding 
depression  to  man  and  beast,  owing  to  the  great  lack  of 
needed  supplies.  Yet  by  extreme  effort  the  company  had 
been  kept  ready  for  active  service,  and  when  orders  were 
received  on  the  evening  of  November  23  to  proceed  to  the 
advance  line  established  by  our  Infantry  across  Chattanooga 
Valley,  the  battery  was  in  prime  condition  to  take  the  po 
sition  assigned  to  it  on  Orchard  Knob,  in  line  of  Wood's 
Division.  During  the  night  the  six  guns  'were  arranged  in  a 
semi-circle  facing  Missionary  Ridge,  the  horses  were  sent 
back  to  Chattanooga,  and  everything  was  in  readiness  for 
lively  work  in  the  morning.  Great  apprehension  prevailed 
in  regard  to  the  possible  hazard  of  the  movement,  and  this 
was  made  manifest  in  a  remark  by  our  Corps  Commander 
General  Gordon  Granger,  who  kindly  predicted  we  would 
'all  go  to  h — 1  in  twenty  minutes  after  daylight,  or  make  a 
name  for  life.'  The  Veterans  were  not  one  wiiit  deterred 
by  the  possible  danger,  however,  but  hailed  with  delight, 
after  two  months  of  starving  and  rusting  while  pent  up  in 
Chattanooga,  the  opportunity  to  try  their  mettle  with  the 
forces  which  had  caused  them  so  much  annoyance.  But 
when  morning  came,  no  gun  was  heard  except  scattering 
shots  on  the  picket  lines,  and  so  the  day  passed  without 
serious  interruption  to  the  active  preparations  for  the  mor 
row's  conflict,  giving  added  proofs  of  the  wisdom  of  our 
leader — Grant — who  always  showed  implicit  faith  in  bold 
strokes  to  put  in  awe  an  armed  foe.  On  the  twenty-fifth 
Bridges'  Battery  fired  the  six  guns  which  had  been  arranged 
as  the  signal  for  the  advance  of  the  entire  Union  line  to  the 
base  of  Missionary  Ridge.  So  long  as  it  could  be  done  with 
out  endangering  the  advancing  troops,  our  battery  kept  up 


o 

c 
O 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  281 

constant  firing  on  the  enemy's  lines  and  works,  with  telling 
effect.  During  this  engagement  one  of  our  shells  exploded 
an  artillery  caisson  loaded  within  a  fort  upon  the  crest  of 
the  Ridge,  thus  putting  a  number  of  horses  and  several 
Confederates  hors  de  combat,  and  there  was  general  destruc 
tion  of  munition  of  war  within  the  fort.  From  the  time 
General  Grant  personally  ordered  the  signal  guns  to  fire, 
until  the  capture  of  the  Ridge,  he,  with  members  of  his 
staff,  was  on  Orchard  Knob,  and  repeatedly  gave  commands 
to  the  battery.  The  last  one  was  to  Captain  Bridges,  that 
gunners  be  sent  up  to  the  Ridge  to  man  the  enemy's  cannon 
and  to  fire  on  the  fleeing  troops,  if  such  service  were  required. 
All  in  all,  the  officers  and  men  of  Bridges'  Battery  have  ever 
felt  a  proud  satisfaction  in  the  part  they  were  able  to  take 
in  capturing  Bragg's  stronghold  on  Missionary  Ridge  the 
twenty-fifth  of  November,  1863" 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

PAGE 

ILLINOIS  MONUMENTS  AND  MARKERS  ON  CHICKA- 

MAUGA  AND  MISSIONARY  RlDGE  BATTLEFIELDS  .    .   285 

19TH   ILLINOIS   MONUMENT   DEDICATION   ON    SNOD- 

GRASS  HILL 292 

MAJOR    GEN.    JOHN    MCARTHUR    ON    BATTLE    OF 

MISSIONARY  RIDGE   ,  .   303 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  285 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

When,  not  many  years  ago,  Prince  Henry  of  Prussia, 
brother  of  the  Emperor  of  Germany,  was  in  this  country  he 
visited  the  battlefields  of  Chattanooga,  that  is  to  say,  Chick- 
amauga,  Lookout  Mountain,  and  Missionary  Ridge.  As  a 
souvenir  of  that  visit  he  was  presented  with  a  magnificent 
album,  and  in  it  one  of  the  pictures  he  most  admired  was 
that  of  an  Illinois  Monument.  Upon  Missionary  Ridge 
stands  our  great  State's  tribute  to  all  her  troops  in  the 
Chattanooga  campaign;  it  rises,  a  symmetrical  Corinthian 
column  of  granite  to  a  lofty  height,  with  a  colossal  figure  in 
bronze  at  its  summit  holding  aloft  a  leaf  in  one  hand,  in  the 
other  a  laurel  wreath,  which  it  is  conferring  upon  the  brave 
men  from  Illinois  who  fought  on  that  bloody  field.  From 
the  grand  Boulevard  which  extends  along  the  crest  of  that 
ridge,  from  its  river  end,  now  known  as  Sherman  Heights, 
to  Rossville  Gap,  the  gate  from  Chickamauga  to  Chattanooga, 
the  view  is  marvellously  beautiful;  and  no  monument  upon 
the  entire  panorama  attracts  more  attention  than  the  one 
which  Illinois  has  consecrated  to  her  citizen  soldiers.  Near 
it  is  the  tall  Observation  Tower  erected  by  the  United  States 
Government,  marking  the  spot  that  served  as  Bragg's 
Headquarters.  But  this  monument,  grand  though  it  is, 
is  not  the  only  one  upon  Lookout's  lofty  heights,  on  Chick- 
amauga's  sweeping  vales  and  hills,  or  along  Missionary 
Ridge,  to  write  the  name  of  Illinois  in  letters  proud;  and  we 
have  to  do  with  two  or  three  of  the  others  in  this  present 
chapter. 


286  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

The  story  of  the  unparalleled  and  important  battles 
already  dealt  with  has  been  often  told,  yet  in  very  different 
ways,  by  both  big  and  little  historians.  It  is  not  easy  to  be 
lieve  that  these  many  writers  ever  willfully  distorted  the 
truth,  or  manipulated  their  facts  and  fancies,  nevertheless 
contradictions  and  denials  of  published  statements  have  so 
frequently  been  made  that  in  all  probability  no  book  will 
ever  be  constructed  to  satisfy  everybody,  neither  those  who 
participated  in,  nor  students  of  the  Civil  War.  We  per 
sonally  believe  that,  on  the  whole,  the  " Official  Records  of 
the  Union  and  Confederate  Armies,"  published  at  Wash 
ington  under  authority  of  Congress  by  direction  of  the  Sec 
retary  of  War — it  is  officially  claimed  that  nothing  has  been 
printed  in  these  volumes  except  duly  authenticated  contem 
poraneous  records  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion — should  be 
accepted  as  definite  and  convincing.  As  a  general  thing 
they  are,  so  far  as  they  go;  the  only  trouble  with  them  is 
their  lack  of  necessary  details  bearing  directly  on  the  sub 
ject  matter  at  issue.  But  in  all  probability  the  universally 
accepted  story  of  the  two  great  Western  Combats  of  Septem 
ber  19-20  and  November  25,  1863,  the  one  stamped  with 
United  States,  State,  and  individual  authority,  is  going  to 
be,  if  it  is  not  so  already,  that  which  the  National  Chicka- 
mauga  and  Chattanooga  Battlefield  Park  Commission  has 
established  in  panoramic  order,  with  the  aid  of  monuments, 
markers,  tablets,  towers,  etc.,  and  which  has  cost  millions 
of  dollars,  voted  for  that  purpose  by  unanimous  Congres 
sional  and  State  Legislation. 

Under  an  act  of  Congress,  passed  August  19,  1890,  the 
Battlefield  of  Chickamauga  was  made  a  National  Park. 
At  first  it  contained  6,400  acres,  but  since  then  the  North 
end  of  Lookout  Mountain  and  a  considerable  part  of  Mis 
sionary  Ridge,  likewise  Orchard  Knob,  have  been  added  to 
the  first  panoramic  scheme,  while  the  original  title  name  was 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  287 

changed  to  that  of  National  Chickamauga  and  Chattanooga 
Battlefield  Park  Commission.  The  work  accomplished  by 
this  body  may  be  summed  up  as  follows:  The  central 
drive,  running  from  the  southern  limits  of  Chickamauga 
field  to  the  heights  at  the  river  end  of  Missionary  Ridge 
where  Sherman's  army  was  checked,  is  twenty  miles  in 
length,  all  of  them  passing  through  or  overlooking  heavy 
fighting  ground.  These  plains  and  uplifts  are  a  Park  only 
in  the  sense  that  they  have  been  restored  as  far  as  possible 
to  their  condition  at  the  time  of  the  two  battles.  Nothing 
has  been  done  for  purely  decorative  purposes.  The  old 
lines  of  works  and  the  old  houses  that  were  land  marks 
in  the  combats  which  were  destroyed,  then  or  subsequently, 
have  been  rebuilt  or  restored.  Furthermore,  the  details 
of  six  engagements  are  set  forth  on  tablets  in  the  Park  and 
its  approaches  by  the  National  Commission,  that  is  to  say, 
Wauhatchie,  Brown's  Ferry,  Orchard  Knob,  Lookout 
Mountain,  Missionary  Ridge  and  of  course  Chickamauga. 
Historical  tablets  mark  Brigade,  Division,  Corps  and  Army 
headquarters  on  both  sides;  these  also  set  forth  the  compo 
sition  and  commanders  of  regiments  and  batteries,  likewise 
the  part  each  organization  played  in  the  battles.  Moreover, 
different  States  have  erected  special  monuments  of  their 
own  regiments  and  batteries,  hence  the  services  of  the  men 
who  were  in  the  combats  named  have  been  properly  and 
honorably  commemorated,  with  the  important  result  that 
this  Park  is  today  the  most  comprehensive  and  extended 
military  object  lesson  in  the  world. 

It  would  seem  that  the  chief  promoter,  if  not  the  actual 
founder,  of  this  wonderful  panoramic  history  was  Comrade 
Henry  V.  N.  Boynton,  formerly  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the 
Thirty-fifth  Ohio  Infantry;  both  Brannan  and  Van  Deveer, 
his  Division  and  Brigade  Commanders,  refer  to  him  in  high 
terms  in  their  official  reports  of  the  Battle  of  Chickamauga. 


288  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

In  his  "Chickamauga  National  Military  Park"  book  Com 
rade  Boynton  informs  us  that  this  particular  park  project* 
was  conceived  and  orgainized  not  only  for  the  purpose  of 
a  memorial  to  American  valor,  but  to  afford  to  the  military 
student  an  opportunity  for  studying  of  "the  brilliant  strat 
egy,  the  unsurpassed  fighting  done  there/7  and  "giving  impar 
tial  representation  to  both  sides  in  preserving  the  history 
of  the  field  and  marking  the  line  of  battle."  Writing  of  the 
dedication  of  the  Chickamauga  and  Chattanooga  Battlefield 
Park,  Comrade  Boynton  claims  that  this  National  Panorama 
makes  it  possible  for  a  visitor  to  Snodgrass  Hill  and  Mis 
sionary  Ridge  to  trace  the  movements  of  every  organiza 
tion  down  to  the  units  of  batteries  and  regiments  from  the 
beginning  to  the  close  of  those  engagements.  Union  and 
Confederate  lines  and  positions  are  marked  with  equal  care ; 
the  same  exhaustive  study  has  been  given  to  the  positions 
and  movements  of  the  one  as  to  the  other,  and  both  the  Con 
federate  and  Union  doings  are  set  forth  with  absolute  im 
partiality.  "The  controlling  idea  upon  which  it — the  Na 
tional  Park  of  Chattanooga — Chickamauga — was  founded 
and  which  has  shaped  every  feature  of  the  project  since,  has 
been  to  restore  and  preserve  the  accurate  history  of  those 
famous  battlefields,  and  by  the  means  employed  to  illustrate 
the  prowess  of  the  American  soldier  in  battle." 

Captain  Bremner  writes  us  as  follows  concerning  the 
National  Park:  "When  the  Commission  was  locating  the 
monuments  they  wrote  to  Chicago  to  the  Nineteenth  Illinois 
Veteran  Club,  asking  that  some  one  be  sent  who  could  iden 
tify  the  ground  and  place  where  the  Nineteenth's  monument 
should  be  set.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Raffen  and  myself  went 
and  met  General  Boynton,  Major  Fullerton,  and  Major 
Smith.  We  went  over  the  ground  and  without  any  hesita- 

*The  Government  has  established  four  of  these  National  Parks  on  actual  battle 
fields — Shiloh,  Vicksburg,  Gettysburg,  and  Chickamauga-Missionary  Ridge — and  that 
of  Chickamauga  is  the  only  one  whereon  a  victory  was  gained  by  the  Confederates. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  289 

tion  or  doubt  made  our  decision.  No  suggestions  were  of 
fered  by  the  Commissioners.  I  remarked  to  Major  Smith, 
'Major,  you  know  if  we  are  right.  For  you  know  which 
Brigade  supported  your  battery  from  twelve  noon  until  the 
close  of  the  battle.'  And  he  replied,  'Yes,  this  is  the  place,' 
or  words  to  that  effect,  and  it  was  so  located.  The  Nine 
teenth's  monument  is  on  the  left  of  the  line  of  the  Regiment ? 
the  spot  where  the  charge  was  made  that  closed  the  action, 
and  drove  the  Confederates  from  the  Hill.  At  the  dedica 
tion  of  the  Park  about  fifty  of  the  Nineteenth  Illinois,  both 
officers  and  men,  were  present;  also  a  large  number  of  the 
Eleventh  Michigan  and  the  Eighteenth  Ohio.  I  did  not 
hear  a  single  objection  to  the  position.  All  our  own  men 
claimed  it  was  right  and  that  no  mistake  was  made.  I  have 
had  letters  from  a  few  officers  of  the  Regiment  since  the 
correctness  of  the  position  was  disputed,  sending  sketches 
and  descriptions.  Lieutenants  D.  B.  Morehouse  and  Henry 
S.  Dietrich,  as  well  as  Lieutenant  Stivers,  of  the  Eighteenth 
Ohio,  all  maintain  that  no  mistake  is  possible." 

It  is  both  fitting  and  proper  that  this  space  be  given  to 
some  lasting  account  of  the  National  Chickamauga  Battle 
field  Park  which  the  Government  and  the  States  have  created 
on  the  ground  where  more  than  130,000  American  soldiers 
met  in  deadly  array  half  a  century  ago,  inasmuch  as  our 
Regiment  was  among  the  best  and  foremost  there;  with  the 
further  incentive  that  the  Nineteenth  Illinois  Veteran  Club 
participated  in  the  dedication  of  some  of  the  monuments 
which  now  adorn  that  incomparable  Park.  And  we  will 
give,  too,  an  account  of  the  dedication  of  another  monument 
to  the  honor  and  glory  of  our  Regiment  which,  placed  on 
the  heights  of  Missionary  Ridge,  marks  its  efforts  in  a  com 
bat  that,  though  fought  differently  from  the  orders  of  the 


290  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

Commanding  General,  was  the  most  signal  victory  and  most 
spectacular  battle  known  in  history. 

Of  the  many  pleasant  and  successful  excursions  made 
by  the  Nineteenth  Veteran  Club,  it  would  seem  that  none 
ever  surpassed  in  interest  and  importance  the  one  from  the 
great  city  of  Chicago  to  the  bucolic  stream  of  Chickamauga 
in  September,  1895.  The  start  was  made  on  Sunday  even 
ing,  the  fifteenth  of  that  month,  and  the  next  morning 
brought  the  excursionists  into  the  station  of  the  Louisville 
and  Nashville  Railroad  at  Louisville,  Kentucky.  Soon 
after  they  found  themselves  running  over  familiar  lands. 
Lebanon  Junction  had  changed  hardly  any  since  the  war; 
the  Veterans  readily  distinguished  our  old  Camp  south  of 
the  tank-house,  also  the  drill  and  parade  ground  a  little 
farther  along.  A  few  miles  onward,  Elizabethtown  was  re 
discovered,  the  camp-ground  back  of  the  old  graveyard 
being  visible  from  the  car  windows.  After  this  came  well- 
known  localities— Camp  Nevin,  Bacon  Creek,  Muldraugh's 
Hill,  the  High  Bridge  over  Green  River,  Horse  Cave,  Mam 
moth  Cave  Junction,  Edgefield  Junction,  where  the  National 
Cemetery,  with  its  more  than  16,000  of  our  Union  Army 
comrades  was  seen — and  finally  Nashville,  Tennessee,  at 
about  half  past  four  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  sixteenth, 
was  reached.  As  the  party  were  to  remain  in  that  city  over 
the  night  they  dispersed  at  once  to  view  the  town,  but  the 
lateness  of  the  hour  prevented  much  sight-seeing.  Nash 
ville  was  left  at  nine  o'clock  next  morning,  and  the  train 
soon  arrived  at  the  scene  of  the  Nineteenth's  first  big  battle, 
that  of  Stone  River. 

Writing  of  that  trip,  our  late  Comrade  Lieutenant  Thom 
as  M.  Beatty,  from  whose  article  in  the  Zouave  Gazette  we 
are  now  taking  all  that  concerns  this  excursion,  says:  "The 
view  to  us  was  an  interesting  one.  Gazing  from  the  cars,  we 
could  see,  off  on  the  right,  the  location  of  our  terrible  fight 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  291 

in  the  Cedars;  on  the  left  the  spot  where  we  made  the  des 
perate  charge  across  the  river  to  'save  the  left/  and  where 
our  beloved  Colonel  Scott  received  his  mortal  wound." 
Only  a  short  stop  was  made  at  Murfreesboro,  and  then  on, 
passing  in  succession  Wartrace,  Tullahoma,  Decherd, 
Cowan  Station,  Stevenson,  and  Bridgeport — names  as  fa 
miliar  to  us  as  household  words  in  those  other  years.  Then 
the  Club  members  aad  their  guests  came  into  the  Wauhatchie 
Valley,  with  glimpses  of  the  winding  Tennessee  River  on  the 
left;  on  the  right  were  slowly  unfolding  views  of  Lookout 
Mountain;  and  then  came  the  final  stop  at  Chattanooga. 
Wednesday  morning  preparations  were  made  to  visit  the 
Battlefields  of  Chickamauga,  for  the  purpose  of  dedicating 
the  Regimental  Monument ;  aad  here  we  let  Comrade  Beatty 
continue  the  interesting  story. 

"The  Color  Guard  donned  their  uniforms,  the  Club 
Flag  and  the  old  Nineteenth  Guidons — now  nothing  but 
ragged  strips  of  blue  and  gilt — were  unfurled,  and  after  a 
short  march  through  the  center  of  the  city,  the  whole  party 
took  such  conveyances  as  could  be  secured  at  the  time  and 
rode  out  to  the  battlefield;  it  was  intolerably  hot,  and  um 
brellas  and  water  were  at  a  premium,  but  the  excitement 
and  interest  in  the  day  kept  all  up  and  no  ill  effects  followed 
the  ride.  The  first  point  of  particular  interest  to  come  into 
view,  was  the  knoll  just  in  front  of  Rossville  Gap,  where 
the  regiment  was  stationed  on  Monday  morning  after  the 
battle,  supporting  a  battery  behind  rail  breastworks.  The 
knoll  is  heavily  overgrown  with  timber,  much  thicker  than 
when  we  were  first  there,  but  otherwise  the  scenery  is  un 
changed.  Passing  on,  we  soon  reached  the  battlefield 
proper,  and  could  see  on  every  hand  mute  evidences  of  the 
desperate  struggle.  Here  a  granite  monument  to  show 
where  some  brave  regiment  had  made  a  desperate  charge, 


292  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

or  still  more  desperate  stand;  there  a  mound  of  cannon- 
balls  to  mark  the  spot  where  a  gallant  commanding  officer 
fell,  and  all  around  batteries  of  artillery  on  the  ground  they 
occupied  during  the  fight;  it  is  a  sad  but  inspiring  sight. 
About  noon  we  reached  Snodgrass  Hill,  or  Horseshoe  Ridge- 
as  it  is  sometimes  called — and,  leaving  the  teams  at  the  foot, 
the  Color  Guard  escorted  the  colors  to  the  top  of  the  hill, 
and,  after  stacking  arms  in  rear  of  the  monument,  dispersed, 
to  await  the  formal  exercises  later  on,  an  account  of  which 
is  given  by  Comrade  Young. 

" Starting  on  the  return  journey  about  four  o'clock  we 
drove  down  by  the  Brotherton  farm  and  located  the  position 
held  by  the  regiment  on  Saturday  night,  where  we  had  the 
severe  skirmish  firing,  and  the  regiment  poured  a  volley  into 
the  enemy  over  the  heads  of  the  skirmishers,  (the  writer 
remembers  the  point  most  distinctively,  as  he  was  on  the 
skirmish  line,  and  when  that  volley  was  fired  he  thought 
his  time  had  come,  sure!)  Returning  north  on  the  Lafayette 
road  we  passed  the  Kelly  field  where  our  Brigade  made  the 
charge  on  Sunday  morning  and  captured  Gen.  Adams; 
still  further  north,  at  the  junction  of  the  Lafayette  and 
Snodgrass  Hill  road,  we  found  the  monument  erected  by 
the  State  to  Bridges'  Battery;  at  this  point,  we  were  told 
poor  "Billy"  Bishop,  whom  we  all  knew  and  admired,  was 
killed.  Returning  to  Rossville  Gap  a  turn  was  made  to 
the  right  taking  the  new  Government  road  along  the  crest 
of  Missionary  Ridge,  and  we  were  soon  feasting  our  eyes 
on  some  of  the  most  beautiful  views  in  the  world.  The 
roadway  is  a  magnificent  work  extending  the  whole  length 
of  the  ridge,  as  smooth  and  hard  as  our  finest  boulevards. 
The  hillsides  have  been  cut  away  in  places,  and  the  depres 
sions  filled  up,  making  the  road  practically  level  the  whole 
distance.  At  various  places  along  the  road  tablets  have  been 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  293 

erected,  marking  the  points  where  the  different  organiza 
tions  reached  the  crest  during  the  battle.  Many  of  these, 
however,  were,  according  to  our  judgment,  placed  incor 
rectly.  A  tablet  for  the  Eleventh  Michigan,  for  instance, 
being  placed  nearly  half  a  mile  to  the  right  of  the  point  at 
which  it  was  decided  our  Regiment  gained  the  crest.  Lin 
gering  on  the  ridge  till  near  sunset,  we  finally  returned  to 
the  city  a  .id  reached  our  train  thoroughly  tired  out  but  fully 
satisfied  with  the  achievements  and  enjoyments  of  the  day." 

In  the  same  number  of  the  Zouave  Gazette  Comrade  John 
Young,  of  Company  E,  tells  how  the  Monument  was  dedi 
cated,  and  his  paper  is  worth  giving  in  full. 

" Wednesday,  September  18,  was  the  day  assigned  for 
the  dedication  of  the  State  Monuments  on  the  Chickamauga 
Battlefield.  The  morning  was  clear  and  warm,  and  the 
roads  filled  with  the  veterans  of  both  sides  who  participated 
in  the  battle  thirty-two  years  ago.  The  gray  hairs  and  bent 
forms  of  many  gave  evidence  of  hardships  and  wounds 
endured.  Others  were  present  with  whom  time  had  dealt 
gently  since  in  the  vigor  of  youth  they  had  marched  over 
the  same  ground,  going  to,  or  returning  from,  the  historic 
field.  There  was  an  impressiveness  in  the  vast  throng  as 
they  moved  along  the  dusty  road;  to  the  younger  generation 
it  was  an  object  lesson  in  patriotism  never  to  be  forgotten 
and  perhaps  never  to  be  witnessed  again  in  their  day;  Soon 
after  reaching  Rossville,  as  we  approached  Battery  Hill, 
the  first  of  the  descriptive  tablets  erected  by  the  Govern 
ment  came  to  view.  On  it  we  read  19th  Illinois  Infantry.' 
It  told  of  the  last  position  held  by  our  regiment  on  September 
21st  before  our  withdrawal  into  Chattanooga,  after  passing 
through  the  famous  Rossville  Gap.  As  we  moved  into  the 
more  open  country  beyond,  the  beauty  and  grandeur  of 
the  field  came  to  view.  What  a  change  since  we  last  looked 
on  it,  on  that  memorable  evening  of  the  battle. 


294  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

'The  neighing  troops,  the  flashing  blade, 

The  bugle's  stirring  blast, 
The  charge,  the  dreadful  cannonade, 

The  din  and  shout  are  past.' 

"All  was  now  calm  and  peaceful  under  the  Autumn  sky' 
for  time  has  kindly  healed  the  dents  and  scars  of  cruel  war* 
The  many  monuments  now  dotting  the  hills  and  grassy 
plains  brought  back  vivid  recollections  and  many  sad  mem 
ories  of  the  fierce  struggle.  After  a  short  ride  we  reached 
the  now  famous  Snodgrass  Hill.  As  we  approached  the 
ridge  to  the  position  so  well  remembered,  we  observed  a 
massive  granite  block  with  the  words  ILLINOIS/  in  bold 
letters,  on  its  beveled  top,  and  cut  deep  in  the  polished 
face  of  the  stone  '19th  INFANTRY.'  This,  then,  was  our 
monument,  erected  on  the  front  of  the  ridge,  where,  during 
that  Sunday  afternoon,  we  repelled  the  continuous  attacks  of 
Kershaw's  brigade  of  Longstreet's  Corps,  who  were  assisted 
later  by  Gracie's  Brigade  of  Preston's  Division.  Draping 
the  stone  with  our  regimental  flag,  the  color  guard  stacked 
arms  to  await  the  formal  ceremonies  of  dedication. 

"The  Illinois  monuments  are  massive  granite  blocks, 
with  polished  sides,  having  the  regiment,  brigade,  division 
and  corps  carved  into  the  face  of  the  stone.  They  are 
pleasing  in  their  look  of  solidity.  On  the  left  stands  the 
ornate  monument  of  the  Eighteenth  Ohio,  and,  still  further 
to  the  left,  that  of  the  Eleventh  Michigan,  surmounted  with 
a  life-size  statue  of  the  lamented  Colonel  Stoughton. 

"Snodgrass  Hill  seemed  to  be  the  Mecca  of  the  many 
visitors.  When  we  arrived,  the  ridge  was  well  occupied, 
among  those  present  being  a  large  delegation  of  the  Eleventh 
Michigan,  preparing  to  dedicate  their  beautiful  monument. 
After  cordial  and  hearty  greetings  with  our  comrades  of 
over  two  years  in  the  same  Brigade,  it  was  decided  to  hold 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  295 

a  joint  dedicatory  service.  Lieutenant  Young,  of  the  Nine 
teenth  Illinois,  was  chosen  to  preside,  assisted  by  Comrade 
Boughton  of  the  Eleventh  Michigan.  After  a  few  intro 
ductory  remarks,  Comrade,  the  Rev.  Washington  Gardner, 
Michigan's  honored  Secretary  of  State,  lead  in  prayer. 
James  W.  King,  of  the  Eleventh  Michigan,  then  read  an 
interesting  review  of  the  services  rendered  by  the  Brigade 
during  the  Chickamauga  campaign,  which  was  listened  to 
with  close  attention.  General  R.  A.  Alger,  being  called 
upon,  responded  in  a  short  and  eloquent  address,  full  of 
tenderness  and  deep  feeling.  He  was  followed  by  Captain 
Bremner  and  Comrade  Dustin  of  the  Nineteenth,  and  by 
Comrades  Boughton,  Hicks,  and  Whallon,  of  the  Eleventh 
Michigan,  who  were  listened  to  attentively  as  they  related 
the  story  of  the  struggle  for  possession  of  the  hill  on  which 
we  stood.  The  ceremony  of  dedication  was  concluded  with 
'taps'  by  the  bugler." 

Nearby  the  Government  has  erected  a  descriptive  metal 
tablet,  reading  as  follows: 

STANLEY'S  BRIGADE. 

Negley's  Division — Thomas's  Corps. 
Col.  Timothy  R.  Stanley. 

Sept.  20th,  1863,  noon,  2nd  position. 

19th  Illinois,  Lieut,  Col.  Alex.  W.  Raffen. 

llth  Michigan,  Col.  Wm.  L.  Stoughton. 

18th  Ohio,  Lieut.  Col.  Chas.  H.  Grovenor. 

The  brigade  arrived  on  this  ground,  from  the  woods  west 
of  the  north  end  of  the  Kelly  field,  about  noon.  The  18th 
Ohio  was  placed  on  the  left  of  the  line,  at  the  Snodgrass 
House,  as  support  to  Battery  I,  4th  U.  S.  Artillery  of  Van- 
derveer's  Brigade,  which  had  been  posted  there  by  Gen. 
Negley.  The  llth  Michigan  was  on  the  left  of  the  front 


296  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

line,  and  the  19th  Illinois  on  the  right,  joining  Gen.  Bran- 
nan's  line.  Col.  Stanley  was  wounded  at  noon,  and  Col. 
Stoughton  took  command.  The  assault  on  the  position 
by  Kershaw's  Brigade  was  continuous  and  persistent  from 
1  o'clock  until  4.  About  4:30  Gracie's  Brigade  of  Preston's 
Division  came  to  the  assistance  of  Kershaw,  and  carried 
the  point  of  the  hill  in  front  of  Stanley,  and  held  it  for  an 
hour.  At  6  o'clock  the  18th  Ohio  was  brought  from  the  left, 
and  forming  behind  the  crest,  charged  forward,  and  with 
the  assistance  of  the  other  regiments,  recaptured  the  posi 
tion.  This  closed  the  righting  on  that  part  of  the  li,ie. 
At  7:30  the  brigade  following  "Barker's"  withdrew  by  Mc- 
Farland's  Gap  to  Rossville.  Casualties  in  the  battle: 
Killed,  20;  wounded,  146;  captured  or  missing,  49.  Total, 
215. 

"The  remainder  of  the  day  was  taken  up  in  viewing  other 
portions  of  the  field,  especially  the  ground  we  fought  over  on 
Sunday  forenoon,  near  which  is  erected  the  Monument  to 
Bridges'  Battery,  and  where  gallant  young  Lieutenant 
Bishop  was  killed.  The  Park  and  Drives,  including  the 
crest  road  to  Missionary  Ridge  Battlefield,  cannot  be  sur 
passed  for  beauty  and  scenic  grandeur.  In  closing  I  can  but 
repeat  what  was  said  by  Governor  Holcomb,  of  Nebraska, 
in  reference  to  the  Park.  'On  every  hand  are  mute  evi 
dences  of  the  memorable  conflict.  Could  the  stones  speak, 
or  the  hills  break  the  long  silence  they  have  kept,  we  would 
hear  innumerable  stories  of  desperate  valor  not  chronicled 
in  history.'  ' 

The  Nineteenth's  Monument,  standing  on  Horseshoe 
Ridge — sometimes  called  Snodgrass  Hill — occupies  a  con 
spicuous  position  at  the  point  of  that  height  about  two 
hundred  and  fifty  to  three  hundred  yards  South  and  a  little 
East  of  the  Snodgrass  House,  being  located,  as  near  as  could 
be  determined  in  the  absence  of  the  rail  breastworks,  on  the 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  297 

very  spot  where  stood  our  regimental  Colors  during  the 
battle.  All  the  Illinois  monuments  are  alike  in  size  and  ap 
pearance;  the  only  difference  in  them  lies  in  the  lettering. 
The  fact  that  they  are  scattered  over  an  area  of  at  least 
6,000  acres  removes  the  objection  of  monotony  urged  by 
some.  But  this  sameness  is  a  decided  advantage;  for  when 
ever  the  eye  rests  on  one  of  them,  the  observer  knows  that 
some  of  the  best  blood  of  the  State  that  gave  Lincoln  and 
Grant  and  Logan  to  the  Union  cause  baptized  the  ground 
on  which  it  stands.  It  is  believed  that,  all  things  considered, 
Illinois  has  the  most  appropriate  monuments  in  the  National 
Chickamauga-Chattanooga  Battlefield  Park.  Each  of  her 
monuments  consists  of  only  two  stones,  the  base  and  the 
die,  the  weight  of  both  being  ten  tons.  They  are  made  of 
Quincy,  Massachusetts,  granite,  believed  to  be  the  most 
durable  granite  in  the  country;  the  base  stone  of  the  Nine 
teenth  is  seven  feet  six  inches  long;  four  feet  four  inches  wide, 
and  one  foot  six  inches  high,  with  nine-inch  bevel  on  top, 
quarry  face.  The  die  is  six  feet  four  inches  long,  three  feet 
two  inches  wide,  three  feet  high;  three  sides  and  top  quarry 
face,  nine  inch  bevel  around  top,  cut  finish;  on  front  of  bevel 
the  word  "ILLINOIS"  in  raised  polished  letters,  which  domi 
nates  all  and  can  be  seen  from  afar;  the  front  face  of  the  die 
highly  polished,  with  sunk  letters  containing  necessary 
inscription;  die  set  in  with  wedged  joints.  The  foundation 
of  each  monument  was  prepared  by  the  United  States  Gov 
ernment  without  cost  to  the  State.  There  were  thirty-six 
regiments  from  Illinois  engaged  in  the  Battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga. 

***** 

The  erection  of  a  Monument  on  Missionary  Ridge  in 
honor  of  the  Nineteenth  was  first  suggested  during  the  at 
tendance  at  the  dedication  just  dealt  with.  After  the  me 
morial  service  on  Chickamauga  field,  the  scene  of  the  battle 


298  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

of  November  25  was  visited  by  the  Veteran  Club.  The 
part  of  the  crest  of  Missionary  Ridge  reached  by  our  Regi 
ment  in  the  heroic  onslaught  described  in  Chapter  VIII  was 
definitely  located;  it  is  about  1,000  feet  South  of  the  Bragg 
tower.  The  ground  was  afterward  purchased  by  Comrades 
Bremner  and  Young;  the  site  was  presented  to  the  Veteran 
Club  without  cost;  and  steps  were  at  once  taken  to  raise 
sufficient  funds  by  subscription  to  carry  out  the  Club's 
intentions.  The  result  was  all  that  had  been  hoped  for,  the 
monument  was  assured.  Those  having  the  matter  in  charge 
agreed,  and  most  properly,  that  the  battle  scene  which  had 
inspired  the  illustrious  author  of  " America"  was  the  best 
possible  subject  for  the  die  of  this  testimonial  to  the  valor 
of  the  Nineteenth  Illinois,  and  so  it  came  about  that  Captain 
David  and  his  brave  Color  Company  are  uin  the  forefront 
of  the  fight"  in  that  memorable  contest  which  drove  the 
enemy  from  before  Chattanooga.  The  monument  occupies 
a  prominent  position  about  fifteen  feet  above  the  crest  road, 
a  flight  of  stone  steps  leading  from  the  roadway  to  its  base, 
the  slope  of  the  bank  being  rip-rapped  to  prevent  its  crum 
bling. 

The  evening  of  November  23,  1897,  a  few  members  of  the 
Regiment — Comrades  David  F.  Bremner,  John  Young,  P.  F. 
Guthrie,  H.  A.  Downs,  P.  McConnell,  Robert  R.  Sampson, 
Charles  Ferris,  G.  H.  Uchtman,  J.  M.  Spahn,  Jacob  Bolles, 
J.  H.  Reynolds,  Jacob  B.  Stanger,  Thomas  Beatty  (Com 
rades  Ramage,  Lamb,  and  Irons  joined  the  party  at  Chat 
tanooga),  etc.,  with  their  ladies  and  friends,  left  Chicago  and 
arrived  at  their  destination  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
of  the  twenty-fourth.  The  next  day — Thanksgiving  Day, 
1897 — the  party  went  up  on  Lookout  Mountain  and  thence, 
after  a  noon  dinner,  took  carriages  to  Missionary  Ridge,  to 
attend  the  dedicatory  service  for  which  they  had  gone  so  far 
from  home.  Writing  to  the  Zouave  Gazette  of  that  trip,  Mrs. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  299 

H.  A.  Downs,  wife  of  our  esteemed  comrade,  says:  "This 
was  a  sacred  observance,  and  only  those  men  who  had  been 
in  battle  and  had  seem  comrades  falling  at  their  sides  can 
fully  understand  the  emotions  which  almost  made  utterance 
impossible.  The  folds  of  the  State  and  Regiment  Flags 
rested  over  the  beautiful  monument  like  a  final  benediction. 
As  we  stood  there  beneath  that  Autumn  foliage, 
with  all  the  wonderful  surroundings  of  Nature  and  the  beau 
tiful  in  Art,  a  group  of  men  and  women,  showing  our  loyalty 
to  and  love  for  those  who  had  fallen  thirty-four  years  before, 
it  seemed  as  if  the  Lord  of  Hosts  and  the  God  of  Battles 
Who  presided  on  that  day  of  carnage  was  also  present  on 
this  occasion  as  a  Spirit  of  Peace." 

The  dedicatory  services  wrere  simple,  yet  impressive. 
Our  old  battle  Flags,  those  that  we  planted  in  the  enemy's 
breastworks  at  the  close  of  the  assault  on  the  Ridge  in  1863, 
and  which  since  the  war  have  reposed  in  Memorial  Hall  of 
the  State  Capitol,  had,  through  the  kindness  of  the  Governor 
of  Illinois,  been  sent  to  us,  and  with  Comrades  Petei  F.  Guth- 
rie,  of  E  Company,  and  Robert  Sampson,  of  A  company,  as 
color  bearers,  were  placed  on  either  side  of  the  Monument, 
the  Flags  unfurled.*  Comrade  John  Young,  the  then  Presi 
dent  of  the  Veteran  Club,  stepped  to  the  front,  called  the 
gathering  to  order  and,  after  a  few  introductory  remarks, 
delivered  an  address  in  which  he  said: 

" Comrades  and  Friend^: — We  are  here  today  to  do  honor 
to  our  former  comrades  of  the  Nineteenth,  who  gave  up  their 
lives  in  defense  of  the  Union,  and  dedicate  to  their  memory 
this  beautiful  monument  to  be  guarded  and  cared  for  by  a 
grateful  nation,  whose  liberal  generosity  has  made  this— 
the  battlefield  of  Missionary  Ridge  and  the  adjoining  fields 

*It  is  with  sadness  we  add  that  one  of  these  Color  bearers,  Comrade  Guthrie — 
a  man  of  lovable  character,  brave  and  true — passed  away  about  two  years  afterward, 
thus  giving  another  noble  typ3  of  the  Volunteer  soldier  to  the  long  list  taken  from  our 
fast  diminishing  ranks.  Hs  died  lamented  by  many  good  msn,  but  lamented  by  none 
more  than  he  who  writes  these  words. 


300  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

of  Chickamauga  and  Lookout  Mountain — a  national  park 
where  the  patriotic  citizens  and  the  military  student  may 
come,  and  on  the  many  monuments  read  the  story  of  the 
assault  on  this  memorable  hillside  of  the  two  days'  struggle 
on  Chickamauga's  sanguinary  field,  and  of  the  daring  and 
seemingly  impossible  ascent  of  Lookout,  now,  as  then, 
standing  before  us  grim  and  defiant.  Great  events  are 
brought  as  vividly  to  the  mind's  eye  as  if  they  had  just 
occurred.  Could  I  turn  back  the  year  hand  on  time's  dial 
thirty-four  years  today  how  different  would  be  the  scene 
presented.  Below  us,  where  now  a  prosperous  city  has  been 
built,  then  was  to  be  seen  the  tents  of  a  great  army,  with  the 
guns  of  Fort  Wood  and  Negley  hurling  shot  and  shell  upon 
the  heights  on  which  we  now  stand,  while  in  their  front  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland  was  forming  its  ranks,  preparatory 
to  the  desperate  work  before  it.  Along  the  embattled 
crest  of  this  ridge  the  enemy,  alert  and  watchful,  were  be 
hind  their  works,  observing,  no  doubt,  with  thrilling  interest 
the  movements  of  our  troops  in  the  valley  below.  On  the 
morning  of  that  day  the  sound  of  Sherman's  guns  and  the 
rattle  of  musketry  on  our  left  told  of  the  commencement  of 
the  struggle  for  possession  of  the  Ridge.  Early  in  the  af 
ternoon  Generals  Grant  and  Thomas,  with  other  officers  of 
prominence,  assembled  on  Orchard  Knob  waiting  impatiently 
for  the  sound  of  Hooker's  guns,  off  by  Rossville.  Near 
them  stood  our  Company  G,  then  known  as  Bridges'  Battery, 
ready  at  the  word  of  command  to  fire  the  signal  guns  that 
put  the  veterans  of  Stone  River  and  Chickamauga  in  motion 
for  the  assault.  How  gallantly  the  Army  of  the  Cumber 
land  performed  its  part  history  tells.  Before  the  sun  went 
down  on  that  day,  thirty-four  years  ago,  the  Ridge,  from 
Rossville  to  the  Tennessee  river,  was  ours.  But  at  what 
a  cost !  The  thousands  of  marble  headstones  in  the  National 
Cemetery  yonder  show  how  many  brave  hearts  joined  their 


. 


bd 


3  S 


i 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  301 

comrades  on  the  other  shore  in  this  and  the  surrounding 
battlefield.  I  will  leave  to  others  present  to  tell  of  that 
grand  charge,  how  those  dear  old  flags  led  us  up  these  rugged 
heights  to  final  victory,  and  how  the  gallant  Army  of  the 
Cumberland  emerged  from  the  woods  and  advanced  as  if  on 
parade  against  the  batteries  crowning  the  Ridge.  The  bronze 
tablets  on  our  monument  tell  how  well  the  Nineteenth 
did  its  duty  on  that  day.  It  was  a  glorious  victory,  and  well 
does  our  brave  dead  deserve  this  mark  of  our  never  failing 
admiration  of  their  gallant  deeds. 

"And  now,  comrades,  with  uncovered  heads  we  will 
drape  this  monumental  stone  with  the  old  flags,  and  this 
shall  be  our  formal  dedication." 

President  Young  then  requested  Major  E.  E.  Betts, 
Topographical  Engineer  of  the  Chattanooga  Military  Park 
System,  to  accept  the  monument  on  behalf  of  the  National 
Park  Commissioners,  and  transferred  to  him  a  deed  to  the 
ground  on  which  it  stands.  Major  Betts  responded  feelingly, 
accepting  the  trust  in  behalf  of  the  Commissioners  and  prom 
ised  to  see  that  it  received  the  same  care  and  attention  as 
those  erected  by  the  States.  Major  General  Me  Arthur  and 
Major  Vocke  were  called  on  and  made  short  addresses 
suitable  to  the  occasion. 

The  die,  or  panel,  a  bronze  relief,  represents  the  climax 
of  the  battle,  the  incident  shown  being  historically  correct. 
The  Confederates,  driven  from  their  works  at  the  foot  of 
the  great  slope,  retreated  up  the  face  of  the  Ridge,  and, 
assisted  by  the  artillery  occupying  the  lines  above,  contested 
every  yard  of  ground  during  our  ascent.  As  the  Nineteenth 
neared  the  crest,  the  enemy's  fire  became  doubly  destructive. 
Here  Color  Corporal  William  Patterson,  of  Company  E 
bearing  the  National  Flag,  was  killed.  Private  Patrick  Mc 
Donald,  of  Company  K,  grasped  the  fallen  Flag  and  bore 
it  onward.  In  a  few  moments  he  also  was  struck  down,  and 


302  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

was  thus  compelled  to  surrender  his  precious  charge.  Then 
Captain  Bremner,  commander  of  the  Color  Company, 
seized  the  Flag,  as  elsewhere  related,  and,  amidst  cheering 
from  the  whole  brigade,  planted  it  on  the  enemy's  breast 
works,  receiving  a  volley  from  the  retreating  Confederates, 
which  shot  the  staff  in  twain  in  his  hands.  Sergeant  George 
Steel,  who  had  bravely  borne  the  State  Flag  up  the  Ridge, 
fell,  severely  wounded,  almost  in  reach  of  the  crest.  Private 
John  Brosnahan,  dropping  his  musket,  took  the  colors  from 
the  wounded  Sergeant,  and,  following  his  Captain,  carried 
it  on  to  and  over  the  same  breastwork?. 

The  bronze  shows  Captain  Bremner,  Flag  in  hand, 
climbing  toward  the  works.  On  his  right  Private  Brosna 
han  is  taking  the  State  Flag  from  the  grasp  of  wounded 
Sergeant  Steel.  Below,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Raffen,  sword 
in  hand,  is  cheering  on  his  men.  Near  him  Lieutenant 
Thomas  M.  Beatty  is  leading  Company  A  in  support  of  the 
Colors.  In  the  center,  Lieutenant  Young  of  Company  E, 
stoops  for  an  instant  over  poor  Patterson.  Close  by,  Cor 
poral  Thomas  G.  Lawler,  with  blanket  roll  over  his  shoulder, 
is  pushing  forward  with  his  comrades  of  Company  E.  Up 
near  the  Colors,  Major  Guthrie  is  gallantly  leading  the  left 
of  the  Regiment  in  the  final  charge.  Below  him,  Sergeant 
Peter  F.  Guthrie,  with  musket  at  "ready,"  is  pressing  to 
the  front,  while  near  Peter  the  wounded  McDonald  from 
Company  A,  cap  in  hand,  is  cheering  his  comrades  on.  A 
few  moments  later  those  two  victorious  Flags  were  waving 
over  the  captured  breastworks  of  the  late  defiant  foe. 

On  his  return  North,  General  McArthur,  (Captain  of  the 
Highland  Guard — Company  E — when  that  organization 
offered  its  services  to  the  Governor  of  Illinois  in  January, 
1861,  and  who  was  appointed  Colonel  of  the  Twelfth  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry;  he  rose  to  be  a  Major  General  during 


Rear  View   of  Monument   on  Missionary  Ridge. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  303 

the  war)  who  was  one  of  the  Club's  guests  on  this  occasion, 
wrote  to  the  Zouave  Gazette  as  follows: 

"The  ceremonies  at  the  dedication  of  the  Nineteenth's 
Monument  to  the  memory  of  its  heroic  dead  on  Missionary 
Ridge  were  simple  from  the  fact  that  no  official  dignity 
graced  the  occasion,  impressive  by  the  fact  that  the  actual 
participants  of  the  heroic  struggle,  together  with  the  iden 
tical  Flags  borne  on  that  memorable  November  afternoon 
in  1863,  were  placed  as  sacred  emblems  by  their  bearers  on 
the  Monument  as  a i  last  tribute  of  respect  to  their  fallen 
comrades.  On  looking  over  the  ground  traversed  by  the 
grand  old  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  considering  its 
fearful  struggle  at  Chickamauga,  and  the  magnificent 
courage  displayed  by  again  attacking  the  enemy  in  his  strong 
positions  around  Chattanooga,  there  raised  within  me  emo 
tions  of  pride  and  renewed  confidence  in  the  future  of  our 
glorious  country.  The  difficult  ground  up  which  the  Union 
soldiers  charged  could  hardly  be  credited  were  it  not  for 
the  monuments  scattered  all  over  the  field,  now  standing 
silent  but  convincing  witnesses  of  the  truth  of  history  to  com 
ing  generations.  In  talking  with  an  ex-Confederate  soldier 
on  this  question  I  asked  him  what  was  the  feeling  among  the 
Confederates  that  could  induce  them  to  yield  such  strong 
stragetic  positions.  He  answered  by  saying  that  although 
they  whipped  the  " Yanks"  at  Chickamauga,  it  was  such  a 
victory  as  they  had  no  desire  to  repeat,  and  with  the  sound  of 
Sherman's  guns  thundering  away  on  their  right,  backed  up 
by  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  whose  reputation  for  hard 
knocks  had  preceded  them,  their  men  simply  became  dis 
couraged,  an  explanation  that  I  thought  was  fair,  and,  in 
the  nature  of  things,  was  human. 

It  is  with  sadness  we  add  that  one  of  the  Color  bearers 
of  that  notable  occasion,  Comrade  Peter  F.  Guthrie — a  man 
of  lovable  character,  brave  and  true — passed  away  about  two 


304  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

years  afterwards,  thus  giving  another  noble  type  of  the  Amer 
ican  soldier  to  the  long  list  of  our  comrades  taken  from  our 
fast  diminishing  ranks.  He  received  injuries  at  the  battle 
of  Stone  River  from  which  he  never  fully  recovered.  He 
died  lamented  by  many  good  men,  but  lamented  by  none 
more  than  he  who  writes  these  words. 

But  of  all  the  monuments  in  the  National  Park  of  Chick- 
amauga- Chattanooga  Battlefield  none  is  more  original 
in  design  than  another  one  placed  by  Illinois  upon  Orchard 
Knob.  It  was  something  like  a  Hall  of  Glory,  a  Pantheon 
to  heroic  men,  standing  near  the  ever-floating  Flag  which 
they  so  grandly  defended.  Beneath  the  canopied  top  of 
the  testimonial  the  weary  may  rest  on  the  marble  seats  and 
read  the  names  of  regiments  that  hailed  from  Illinois.  The 
ceiling  of  this  is  polished  to  a  mirror's  brilliancy;  and  it  is 
flanked  by  cannon,  of  the  kind  which  our  Comrades  in  the 
Light  Artillery  so  bravely  stood  for  in  the  Civil  War.  Here, 
too,  the  position  of  our  old  friends  in  Bridges'  Battery  has 
been  definitely  marked  by  the  National  Park  Commission 
ers.  Four  guns  representing  that  Battery  have  been 
mounted  in  their  original  positions,  and  a  tablet  with  the 
name  and  official  designation  placed  just  in  front.  This 
Memorial  of  Bridges'  Battery  and  the  Illinois  Hall  of  Fame 
make  Orchard  Knob  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  attract 
ive  spots  around  Chattanooga. 


p- 

"8 


CHAPTER  IX. 

PAGE 

AFTER  THE  BATTLE  OF  MISSIONARY  RIDGE 307 

ON  THE  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN 312 

BATTLE  OF  RESACA 314 

FOR  HOME 317 

ADIEU  TO  THE  ARMY  .  320 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  307 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Told  in  the  fewest  words  possible,  the  story  of  our  Regi 
ment  after  Missionary  Ridge  would  read  something  like 
this.  In  a  skirmish  with  the  Confederates  at  Grayville 
November  26, 1863,  followed  the  next  day  by  a  combat  with 
them  at  Ringgold.  Return  to  Chattanooga  on  the  twenty- 
ninth.  Preparations  for  Winter  existence  as  Veterans  who 
knew  what  to  do  and  how  to  do  it.  Huts  constructed  with 
out  the  aid  of  architects,  yet  containing  all  the  conforts 
really  necessary  to  a  soldier's  well-being.  Something  doing 
nearly  all  the  time — as  for  instance:  Up  and  out  early  for 
roll-call — 0!  that  Orderly  Sergeant! — followed  soon  by  a 
breakfast  which  could  not  be  duplicated  at  Sherry's;  writing 
letters,  mending  clothes,  washing  shirt  and  socks,  going  to 
the  Commissary  for  rations,  or  to  the  Quartermaster's  on 
detail  work;  visiting  comrades  in  other  companies,  occasion 
ally  those  in  other  regiments;  laboring  on  the  fortifications; 
cleaning  up  camp;  battalion  drill — never  could  we  have 
escaped  that  if  we  had  served  "a  thousand  years,  my  own 
Columbia;"  discussion  of  past  campaigns,  or  prophecies  as 
to  coming  ones;  conduct  of  armies  in  the  East  more  or  less 
criticised;  and  so  on  for  a  multitude  of  daily  incidents, 
events  and  happenings  important  just  at  that  time,  although 
of  no  great  value  for  the  future,  hence  barely  hinted  at  in 
these  memories  of  other  days. 

That  Winter  a  little  thing  occurred  which  brought  the 
Nineteenth  Illinois  very  close,  so  to  speak,  with  one  of  the 
noblest  women  this  country  has  ever  known — Mary  A.  Liver- 
more,  of  blessed  memory.  She  was  from  Massachusetts, 


308  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

and  it  was  in  a  town  not  far  from  the  village  where  the  Editor 
of  these  pages  now  resides  that  she  passed  away  only  a  few 
years  back.  During  the  war  she  lived  in  Chicago,  and  by 
her  and  some  other  ladies  in  that  city  the  Soldiers'  Rest 
was  founded  in  the  early  stages  of  the  great  struggle.  "It 
was  also  through  their  efforts  that  the  Soldiers'  Home  came 
into  being  while  the  war  was  still  in  progress;  that  two 
great  sanitary  Fairs  were  organized  and  brought  to  a  suc 
cessful  issue ;  that  camp  hospitals  were  equipped  and  supplied 
with  Nurses  and  medical  supplies,  and  the  men  at  the  front 
furnished  with  such  coveted  luxuries  as  onions,  pickles,  and 
chow-chow,  to  supplement  the  regular  menu  of  hardtack 
and  sowbelly."*  So  prosperous,  indeed,  was  the  Chicago 
Sanitary  Fair  of  1863,  that  Mrs.  Livermore  was  called  to 
New  York  to  organize  and  manage  the  still  greater  one  given 
there  in  the  Spring  of  1864,  and  it  was  then  that  a  Private 
of  Company  A  became  her  collaborator  in  its  monetary 
triumph. 

Comrade  Nicholas  Phieffer  was  mustered  out  of  life's 
service  at  Peoria,  Illinois,  toward  the  end  of  January,  1866; 
he  had  been  a  good  soldier,  and  was  a  man  well  liked  by  those 
in  the  Regiment  who  knew  him  personally.  Among  other 
accomplishments,  Nick  was  remarkably  skillful  with  his 
pocket-knife,  and  many  a  handsome  article  did  he  whittle 
for  those  he  loved.  One  fine  day  in  December  he  showed  up 
at  a  "villa"  in  Company  D's  line  to  consult  with  a  Comrade 
for  whom  he  always  had  affection,  and  in  whose  arms  he 
died  a  few  years  afterward.  He  had  carved  from  laurel 
root  dug  up  on  the  battlefield  of  Chickamauga  two  dozen 
of  the  handsomest  napkin-rings  that  were  ever  seen,  and  now 
he  desired  to  present  them  to  our  Commander,  "Old  Pap" 
Thomas,  for  his  table  use.  Was  such  a  thing  possible?  The 
decision  being  finally  in  the  affirmative,  straight  away,  and 

*Frederick  F.  Cook,  in  "Bygone  Days  in  Chicago."    (A.  C.  McClurg  &  Company.) 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  309 

without  permission  to  leave  camp,  two  High-Privates  marched 
to  Headquarters  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  carrying 
a  mysterious  looking  bundle  which  contained  the  napkin- 
tings.  There  was  no  difficulty  whatever  in  obtaining  an 
interview  with  General  Thomas,  who  at  once  displayed 
earnest  interest  in  the  matter.  He  praised  Comrade  Phief- 
fer's  exquisite  taste  and  skillfulness,  as  he  turned  the  rings 
over  and  over  in  his  hands ;  summoned  members  of  his  Offi 
cial  Staff  to  look  at  them,  then  finally  took  poor  Nick's 
breath  away  with  a  proposition.  Prefacing  his  suggestion 
with  the  assertion  that  he  would  hardly  dare  use  such  beau 
tiful  and  valuable  articles  in  his  mess  service,  the  great 
Commander  gently  said  he  would  gladly  accept  the  rings  if 
he  were  permitted  to  send  them  on  to  Mrs.  Mary  Livermore, 
with  a  few  words  of  explanation,  for  her  Sanitary  Fair  at 
New  York,  where  they  were  bound  to  be  admired  and  would 
undoubtedly  sell  for  a  considerable  sum  when  the  story  of 
their  making  came  to  be  known.  Such  a  fine  disposal  of  his 
handicraft  almost  overwhelmed  our  former  Comrade,  but 
he  was  a  man  who  never  lost  his  balance,  and  he  said : 

"General,  I  carved  them  for  you,  and  it  would  have  been 
a  real  pleasure  to  me  if  you  had  accepted  them;  but  if  you 
think  it  better  that  they  should  go  to  the  Sanitary  Fair 
people  I  am  quite  willing,  if — if  you  will  do  the  sending.'7 

General  Thomas  laughed  heartily  at  this,  then  said,  se 
riously:  "Well,  I  will  attend  to  that  part  of  the  affair,  and 
we  must  do  it  at  once  so  as  to  get  them  on  the  catalogue,  if 
there  is  one." 

Then  the  "Rock  of  Chickamauga"  shook  hands  with 
both  those  High-Privates  of  the  Nineteenth,  they  retired 
from  Headquarters,  and  they  managed  to  reach  their  com 
pany  huts  without  being  detected  as  absent  from  camp 
without  leave.  The  rings  went  safely  to  New  York;  they 
were  exhibited  at  the  great  Sanitary  Fair;  and  they  sold  for 


310  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

twenty-five  dollars  each,  that  is  to  say,  six  hundred  dollars! 

About  the  middle  of  December  Grant's  General  Orders 
No.  9,  in  which  he  gave  his  thanks  and  congratulations  to 
" the  brave  armies  of  the  Cumberland,  the  Ohio,  and  the 
Tennessee,  and  their  Comrades  from  the  Army  of  the  Po 
tomac,  for  the  recent  splendid  and  decisive  successes  achieved 
over  the  enemy,"  reached  Chattanooga,  and  was  read  to  all 
the  troops,  of  whatever  organization.  In  that  Order  General 
Grant,  then  in  Virginia,  and  Commander-in-Chief  of  all  the 
Union  Armies,  pointed  out  some  of  the  things  which  had 
been  accomplished  by  the  forces  in  and  near  Chattanooga, 
as  for  instance:  the  securing  control  of  the  Tennessee  River 
from  Bridgeport  to  Knoxville;  the  dislodging  of  the  enemy 
from  his  stronghold  upon  Lookout  Mountain;  the  driving 
him  out  of  Chattanooga  Valley;  the  wresting  from  his  de 
termined  grasp  possession  of  Missionary  Ridge;  the  hustling 
him  from  all  points,  utterly  routed  and  discomfited;  the 
securing  of  positions  from  which  no  Confederate  power  could 
ever  afterward  dislodge  us,  etc.,  and  he  said:  "You  will  yet 
go  to  other  fields  of  strife,  and  with  the  invincible  bravery 
and  unflinching  loyalty  to  justice  and  right  which  have 
characterized  you  in  the  past,  you  will  prove  that  no  foe  can 
withstand  you,  that  no  defenses,  however  formidable,  can 
check  your  onward  march."  It  was  more  than  four  months 
from  that  date,  however,  before  Sherman's  armies  started 
to  carry  out  Grant's  prediction  that  no  foe  could  withstand 
us,  no  defense  could  check  our  onward  march. 

It  is  true  that  with  the  coming  of  George  Washington's 
Birthday  in  1864  things  about  Chattanooga  took  on  the  real 
stamp  of  war  again .  On  the  twenty-second  of  February  the 
Nineteenth  was  one  of  the  regiments  that  " demonstrated" 
against  Dalton,  Georgia,  and  which  movement  included  a 
skirmish  with  the  enemy  at  Ringgold  on  the  twenty-third, 
another  at  Catoosa  Station  on  the  twenty-fourth,  an  action 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  311 

at  Buzzard  Roost  Gap  on  the  twenty-fifth,  and  still  another 
at  Turner's  Station  the  next  day.  After  that  we  took  in 
Grayville  again,  and  thence  returned  to  camp  at  Chatta 
nooga.  Renewal  now  of  "the  same  old  programme"  already 
hinted  at;  and  then— at  last— the  forward  movement  that 
ushered  in  the  Atlanta  Campaign,  in  which  the  Nineteenth 
skirmished,  combatted,  engaged,  and  battled,  now  at  Ring- 
gold,  now  at  Rocky  Face  Ridge,  now  at  Resaca,  or  on  the 
line  of  Pumpkin  Vine  Creek,  or  at  Dallas,  or  at  New  Hope 
Church,  or  at  Adairsville,  or  at  Kingston,  or  at  Allatoona 
Hills — at  scores  of  places  indeed,  until  we  finally  reached 
Ackworth,  from  whence  we  started  for  "God's  Country." 
Such  are  the  bare  facts,  but  the  story  would  be  very  imper 
fect  if  left  in  any  such  skeleton  form,  hence  the  necessity  of 
dealing  more  largely  with  those  closing  six  months  in  the 
history  of  our  Regiment. 

Following  the  disaster  which  had  befallen  him  at  Mis 
sionary  Ridge,  Lieutenant  General  Braxton  Bragg  had  safely 
withdrawn  his  badly  beaten  army  through  the  gorge  in  the 
Chattanooga  Mountains,  and,  fixing  his  headquarters  at 
Dalton,  Georgia,  within  easy  railroad  communication  of 
Atlanta  and  the  rich  farming  lands  round  about,  he  immedi 
ately  started  to  constructing  extensive  fortifications  to  ren 
der  that  place  impervious  to  assault,  and  all  to  no  purpose. 
It  seems  that  about  everybody  in  the  South  except  Jefferson 
Davis  had  lost  confidence  in  General  Bragg,  and  public 
clamor  was  so  insistent  that  early  in  December,  1863,  he  was 
relieved  of  the  command  of  the  Confederate  force  in  our 
front  and  Lieutenant  General  W.  J.  Hardee — a  gallant  and 
distinguished  officer  whom  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  had 
the  honor  of  first  meeting  at  Stone  River  almost  a  year 
previously,  and  where  he  displayed  remarkable  skill  and 
tenacity;  moreover  it  was  he  who  fought  Bragg's  right  on 
Missionary  Ridge  with  deplorable  results  to  Sherman's 


312  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

intentions — was  appointed  his  successor.  Hardee  remained 
in  command  only  a  short  time,  however,  being  soon  succeeded 
by  Lieutenant  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  whom  many 
critics  have  pronounced  "the  finest  military  mind  in  the  Con 
federate  Armies."  In  turn,  and  about  the  middle  of  July, 
1864,  Johnston  had  to  give  way  to  Lieutenant  General 
Hood,  a  famous  Captain  whom  Thomas  often  whipped,  then 
finally  administered  to  him  the  most  crushing  defeat  of  the 
Civil  War  at  Nashville. 

The  Union  force  which  Sherman  commanded  at  the  be 
ginning  of  the  Atlanta  Campaign  was  composed  of  three 
armies,  namely:  that  of  the  Cumberland  (it  had  again  been 
reorganized,  to  a  certain  extent,  but  the  Nineteenth  Illinois 
still  remained  in  the  same  Brigade,  Division,  and  Army 
Corps),  Major  General  George  H.  Thomas  commanding; 
that  of  the  Tennessee,  Major  General  James  B.  McPherson 
commanding;  and  that  of  the  Ohio,  Major  General  John  B. 
Schofield  commanding.  The  larger  force-  was  assigned  to 
Thomas;  it  consisted  of  the  Fourth,  Fourteenth,  and  Twen 
tieth  Army  Corps,  and  it  was  destined  to  bear  the  greatest 
burden  of  the  offensive  work  to  come.  In  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee  was  the  Fifteenth  (John  A.  Logan's  famous 
Corps),  also  the  Sixteenth  Corps,  while  Frank  Blair's  Seven 
teenth  Corps  joined  this  army  the  tenth  of  May.  The 
Army  of  the  Ohio  consisted  of  the  Twenty-third  Corps, 
which  had  been  formed  by  consolidating  the  two  Corps  from 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  sent  us  after  we  had  been  cooped 
up  in  Chattanooga.  Sherman's  total  force  was  just  under  a 
hundred  thousand  men,  with  250  pieces  of  artillery.  John 
ston  had  about  54,000  men  and  245  pieces  of  artillery  to 
begin  with,  but  by  the  tenth  of  May  General  Leonidas  Folk's 
Corps  of  20,000  men  was  sent  to  his  command,  so  that  the 
relative  proportion  between  the  advancing  strength  and  that 
of  the  defense  was  as  ten  to  seven  during  the  entire  campaign 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  313 

which  followed.  The  Union  Army  was  indeed  numerous 
and  well  equipped,  but  it  had  in  truth  enormous  difficulties 
to  face.  The  region  in  which  it  operated  was  wooded  and 
mountainous,  in  great  part  thinly  settled,  quite  unsurveyed 
and  unmapped.  Our  98,800  men  and  the  thirty-five  or 
forty  thousand  animals  must  be  supplied  mostly  from  as 
far  North  as  the  Ohio  River,  by  a  single  line  of  railroad, 
exposed  to  the  enemy  from  Louisville  to  Chattanooga — 
indeed  it  was  often  attacked,  and  might  be  broken  any  day. 
Along  this  thread  of  connection  one  hundred  and  thirty  cars, 
carrying  ten  tons  each,  must  proceed  every  day  in  order  that 
our  force  might  be  fed  and  clothed. 

When  the  Nineteenth  started  on  this  campaign  in  May, 
1864,  it  was  still  in  the  Second  Brigade,  First  Division, 
Fourteenth  Corps,  with  Brigadier  General  John  H.  King  and 
Brigadier  General  Richard  W.  Johnson,  both  regular  officers, 
for  our  Brigade  and  Division  commanders,  while  Major 
General  John  M.  Palmer,  a  Volunteer  soldier  from  Illinois, 
was  at  the  head  of  the  Corps.  On  the  third  of  May  General 
Johnson  moved  his  Division  from  Grayville  to  Ringgold, 
leaving  an  outpost  of  two  regiments,  the  Nineteenth  and  the 
Twenty-fourth  Illinois,  at  Parker's  Gap,  to  hold  that  pass 
until  the  advance  of  the  troops  from  the  direction  of  Cleve 
land  should  cover  it.  Thea,  on  the  day  but  one  following, 
those  two  regiments  were  relieved  and  transferred  from  the 
First  Division  to  the  Brigade  of  Brigadier  General  John  B. 
Turchin,  in  the  Third  Division,  same  Army  Corps.  With 
us  in  this  new  Brigade,  besides  our  old  friends  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Illinois,  were,  the  Eighty-second  Indiana,  Twenty- 
third  Missouri,  Eleventh,  Seventeenth,  Thirty-first,  Eighty- 
ninth,  and  Ninety-second  Ohio  regiments.  At  that  time 
we  had  only  fifteen  officers  and  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
nine  men  in  our  Regiment. 


314  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

The  morning  of  May  7  General  Turchin's  Brigade  broke 
camp  at  Ringgold,  and  after  a  hard  day's  march  encamped 
near  Tunnel  Hill,  where  the  Thirty-first  Ohio  was  thrown 
out  as  a  picket  guard.  Next  day  we  marched  to  a  position 
opposite  Buzzard  Roost  Gap,  and  remained  there,  camped 
in  line  of  battle,  for  four  nights  and  three  days.  On  the 
twelfth  the  Brigade  moved  through  Snake  Creek  Gap  to  a 
position  about  two  miles  East,  to  occupy  works  thrown  up 
by  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  in  a  previous  attempt  on  the 
enemy.  The  thirteenth  Turchin  shifted  his  position  to 
within  three  miles  or  so  of  Resaca,  where  we  bivouacked, 
knowing  that  the  Confederates  were  close  at  hand,  and  feel 
ing  that  another  battle  was  going  to  take  place  very  soon. 
The  morning  of  the  fourteenth  came  at  last;  the  night  had 
been  anything  but  a  restful  o.ie.  Turchin  early  moved  the 
Brigade  to  the  left  of  our  Division  (Baird's),  connecting 
there  with  the  right  of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio.  Here  skir 
mishers  from  the  Nineteenth  Illinois  and  the  Thirty-first 
Ohio  were  thrown  out;  these  engaged  the  Confederates 
about  two  hundred  yards  in  advance  of  the  line  of  battle, 
and  drove  them  back  to  the  hills,  a  distance  of  at  least 
three-quarters  of  a  mile,  but  were  unable  to  advance  any 
further  owing  to  the  strength  of  the  enemy.  Thereupon  our 
skirmish  line  was  doubled  in  strength,  and  the  foe  was  com 
pelled  to  give  back  to  the  second  line  of  hills. 

Then  our  Brigade  became  mixed  up  with  Hascall's  of 
the  Second  Division,  Twenty-third  Corps,  consisting  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Illinois,  One  Hundred  and  Elev 
enth  and  One  Hundred  and  Eighteenth  Ohio,  and  the 
Twenty-third  Michigan  regiments,  in  a  rather  peculiar  way. 
In  the  "Official  Records  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion"  one 
may  read:  " While  my  command  was  near  the  left  of  the 
Fourteenth  Army  Corps,  in  front  of  Resaca,  I  was  ordered 
to  advance  in  conjunction  with  the  First  Brigade  and 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  315 

attempt  to  carry  the  enemy's  position.  My  Brigade  was 
formed  in  three  lines  and  advanced  in  order  until  I  came  up 
with  the  lines  of  the  Fourteenth  Corps,  intrenched  in  my 
front,  when  the  troops  of  both  Corps  became  intermingled 
in  the  thicket  in  their  front,  and  in  a  short  time  the  lines 
were  in  disorder."  Now  the  lines  thus  referred  to  by  Gen 
eral  Hascall  were  his  own,  not  ours;  and  the  question,  which 
naturally  arises,  "Why  were  his  troops  in  disorder  at  such  a 
moment?"  is  answered  by  Major  Uriah  M.  Laurence,  com 
manding  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Illinois,  in  his 
official  report  of  the  part  that  regiment  took  in  the  Battle 
of  Resaca.  He  says:  " About  noon  on  May  14  we  started 
for  the  front,  and  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventh  soon  ran 
on  the  Nineteenth  Illinois  and  an  Ohio  regiment  and  was 
compelled  to  move  round  them  by  the  left  flank,  which 
threw  us  considerably  in  the  rear." 

Major  Laurence  was  a  gallant  and  courageous  soldier, 
an  honor  to  Illinois,  as  were  all  the  troops  under  him,  but 
neither  he  nor  they  were  yet  aware  of  the  fact  that  when  the 
Nineteenth  had,  like  a  trained  thoroughbred  pointer,  once 
established  its  nose  toward  the  game,  no  power,  not  even 
that  of  a  stubborn  enemy  on  the  defense,  could  induce  it 
to  move — except  forward.  Once  on  the  battlefield  we  quite 
forgot  the  polite  form  of  " After  you,  Sirs,"  but  refused  to 
budge  from  whatever  position  might  be  assigned  to  or  taken 
up  by  us,  unless  it  were  toward  the  enemy,  or  in  obedience 
to  orders;  nor  should  our  younger  comrades  from  Illinois 
have  expected  us  to  yield  the  pas  to  them  under  the  circum 
stances.  Even  though  a  writ  of  super sedas  had  been  issued 
by  General  Hascall,  we  would,  in  all  probability,  have  re 
fused  to  step  aside.  Though  always  gentle  in  manner,  the 
Nineteenth  was  ever  vigorous  Li  the  deed;  and  as  every 
regiment  in  Sherman's  armies  had  some  particular  enjoy 
ment,  it  may  be  acknowledged  here  that  Our's  was  that  of 


316  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

hanging  on,  firm  Li  the  belief  that  success  was  the  companion 
of  virtue,  and — Silent  leges  inter  arma,  as  Cicero  puts  it- 
all  polite  laws  are  silent  in  the  midst  of  arms. 

Whilst  we  have  been  thus  running  on,  General  Baird 
was  settling  the  matter  before  Resaca  by  giving  the  order 
that  Turchin's  Brigade  should  advance  as  Hascall's  Brigade 
advanced,  and  so  the  soldiers  of  both  brigades  moved  for 
ward.  The  position  held  by  the  Confederates  was  one 
strongly  intrenched  on  an  irregular  conglomerate  of  hills, 
with  spurs  running  in  every  direction,  their  main  line  on 
these  elevations  inclining  northeastward,  toward  a  bend  in 
the  Connesauga  River,  forming  a  refused  flank  to  their 
force.  On  most  of  the  hills  they  had  batteries  protected  by 
earthworks  of  various  descriptions,  and  so  disposed  as  to 
sweep  the  lines  of  approach  in  every  direction.  The  face  of 
the  country  was  very  rough,  rising  and  falling  in  a  succession 
of  heights  and  deep  gorges,  or  ravines,  rendering  it  a  diffi 
cult  matter  for  our  troops  to  advance  in  good  order,  and 
the  foe  had  availed  himself  of  these  advantages,  and  was 
now  cross-firing  and  enfilading  the  ground  we  were  passing 
over,  both  with  artillery  and  musketry. 

Turchin's  Brigade  advanced  steadily,  however,  as  did  the 
other  Union  forces  engaged,  u^itil  our  lines  suddenly  found 
themselves  confronted  by  a  deep,  narrow  creek,  with  quick 
sand  in  places  and  steep  and  muddy  banks.  The  enemy's 
sharpshooters  fled  on  our  approach,  yet  this  stream  stopped 
further  progress.  But  it  also  proved  a  source  of  great  an 
noyance  to  the  Confederates,  for  it  gave  the  Union  boys  the 
chance  to  pour  in  an  enfilading  fire  which  soon  drove  them 
from  their  works,  although  the  advantage  was  of  short  du 
ration.  The  enemy  soon  succeeded  in  driving  our  unsup 
ported  advance  toward  the  rear;  and  then  Hascall's  troops 
again  got  us  into  trouble  by  suddenly  falling  back  through 
our  lines,  although,  to  their  credit,  be  it  said,  they  quickly 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  317 

reformed.  Turchin's  Brigade  was  next  posted  on  the  first 
ridge  in  front  of  the  enemy's  stronghold,  and  there  we  re 
mained,  fighting  till  night  came  down.  The  battlLig  was 
fiercely  renewed  on  the  fifteenth  of  May,  but  that  night 
Johnston  retreated  across  the  Oostenaula  River. 

On  the  sixteenth  of  the  month  the  Second  Division  of 
Palmer's  Corps  was  sent  to  capture  Rome,  Georgia,  which  it 
did  on  the  eighteenth,  and  it  held  that  place  till  the  twenty- 
fourth.  In  the  meantime  our  Division  had  advanced  with 
the  main  army,  participating  in  its  actions,  and  following 
the  retiring  Confederates  from  Resaca  to  Lost  Mountain. 
On  the  twenty-sixth  it  moved  to  Raccoon  Ford,  and  thence 
to  the  forks  of  the  Dallas  and  Van  Wert  roads,  returning 
on  the  twenty-ninth  with  wagon  trains  to  Burnt  Hickory, 
where  it  remained  for  the  rest  of  the  month,  protecting  the 
rear  of  the  army.  The  second  of  June  it  moved  from  Burnt 
Hickory,  and  took  up  a  position  in  reserve  behind  Johnson's 
Division.  From  there  General  Palmer  advanced  it  about  a 
mile ;  and  during  the  night  of  the  fourth  the  enemy  fell  back 
from  our  front  in  the  direction  of  Big  Shanty.  Next  day 
we  swiftly  followed  them,  but  no  engagement  could  be 
brought  on,  although  there  was  considerable  musketry 
firing.  The  sixth  of  June  the  Brigade  was  on  its  way  to 
Ackworth,  to  help  replace  the  railroad;  and  vast  quantities 
of  war  munitions  were  already  reaching  that  station  when, 
on  the  ninth  of  the  month,  the  Nineteenth  faced  about  and 
started  homewards.  Our  Regiment  had  been  a  part  of 
Sherman's  army  for  considerably  more  than  half  the  dis 
tance  to  Atlanta;  and  from  the  time  when  General  Johnson 
had  left  us  on  outpost  duty  at  Parker's  Gap  till  now,  a  matter 
of  more  than  five  weeks,  we  had  been  in  a  series  of  almost 
continuous  skirmishes  and  combats,  with  one  big  battle 
included,  thus  -alternating  marching  and  fighting  with  de 
lightful  regularity. 


318  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

The  mobility  of  "Old  Tecumseh's"  mighty  force  on  this 
memorable  campaign  is  counted  among  the  most  remark 
able  things  in  military  history.  Never,  says  John  McElroy, 
in  his  work,  "The  Atlanta  Campaign/'  was  a  great  army 
stripped  to  actual  fighting  weight  as  was  Sherman's  three 
armies  by  the  end  of  the  first  month,  and  he  thus  goes  on : 
"When  it  started  out  it  was  thought  that  everything  super 
fluous  had  been  discarded  under  the  rigid  orders  of  Sherman, 
cutting  down  the  trains  to  a  wagon  for  each  regiment,  tents 
discarded,  and  shelter  for  the  officers  limited  to  a  mere 
'fly.'  Regimental,  Brigade,  Division,  even  Corps  command 
ers  had  to  content  themselves  with  this  meager  shelter, 
which  was  scanty  indeed,  against  the  driving  rains.  A  mule 
carried  all  the  larger  cooking  vessels  for  the  company. 
These  were  intrusted  to  a  Negro,  who  was  expected  to  make 
his  way  as  best  he  could  to  the  point  for  which  that  com 
pany's  regiment  was  heading.  Each  enlisted  man  carried 
the  half  of  a  tent  with  a  rubber  or  woolen  blanket,  while 
his  partner  carried  the  other  half,  and  the  men  were  thus 
better  sheltered  than  their  officers.  His  haversack  contained 
his  rations,  usually  enough  for  three  days  at  a  time,  and  on 
his  belt  was  a  small  pot  or  tin  in  which  to  boil  his  coffee. 
This  and  the  half  of  a  canteen  were  his  principal,  if  not  sole, 
cooking  utensils.  The  half  canteen  was  both  multiplex 
and  useful.  In  it  the  soldier  fried  meat,  or  cooked  a  ragout 
of  salt  pork  and  hardtack;  it  served  as  a  wash  bowl  in  the 
morning  when  he  was  not  near  a  brook;  and  with  it  he 
scooped  out  shallow  rifle-pits  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy. 
Generally  he  had  all  he  could  eat;  and,  despite  the  fact  that 
the  Confederates  had  been  living  on  the  country,  there  was 
considerable  to  be  picked  up  by  industrious  foragers  along 
the  wide  sweep  over  which  the  army  marched.  Another 
thing  which  our  troops  brought  to  a  high  state  of  excellence 
by  the  time  they  had  settled  down  in  front  of  Kenesaw  was 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  319 

that  of  rapid  construction  of  field  fortifications.  While 
the  skirmishers  were  engaged  in  front  the  rest  of  the  men 
stacked  arms,  got  axes  and  picks  from  the  wagons,  which  were 
kept  close  to  the  ammunition  train,  and  in  an  incredibly 
short  time  had  themselves  well  covered  against  assault." 

It  was  the  ninth  of  June,  1864,  when  the  Nineteenth 
Illinois  left  the  front.  The  Front !  Foremost  in  many  of  the 
campaigns  of  the  Civil  War,  some  of  them  bordering  on  the 
sensational,  all  of  them  of  gravest  importance  to  the  Nation. 
In  the  front!  and  most  of  the  time  with  a  Commander  in  a 
class  by  himself,  a  General  whom  we  loved  much,  but  re 
vered  him  more.  We  never  criticised,  never  doubted  him; 
never  attributed  to  him  either  moral  error  or  mental  weak 
ness;  and  those  of  us  of  the  dear  old  Regiment  who  are  still 
living  are  thankful  that  we  served  under  "Old  Pap"  Thomas, 
the  loyal  Virginian,  the  incomparable  Soldier,  the  "Rock 
of  Chickamauga,"  the  Christian  gentleman,  one  of  the 
greatest  Captains  of  the  Ages. 

We  were  quite  willing  to  go  home,  of  course,  still  we  left 
the  front  with  keen  regret,  and  with  many  a  looking  back 
ward  as  we  journeyed  northward.  In  front  of  us  now  were 
the  beloved  ones  of  family  and  social  circles — those  who  had 
been  working  for  us,  hoping  for  us,  praying  for  us,  as  they 
awaited  our  return ;  but  at  the  Front  back  of  us  were  the  army 
comrades  of  months  and  years — those  who  had  stood  by 
us  in  many  an  hour  of  peril,  were  ever  ready  to  share  their 
last  hardtack  with  us,  aye,  to  pour  out  their  very  lives  with 
us  for  the  preservation  of  our  common  Country.  It  called 
for  all  the  joy  we  realized  would  soon  be  ours  to  overcome 
the  sadness  of  leaving  the  Boys  in  Blue  who  were  still  to 
win  grand  triumphs  at  the  front  whilst  we  went  marching 
home.  Such  a  show  of  fighting  men,  our  own  dear  comrades 
of  war,  would  never  again  meet  our  eyes;  and  though  our 
minds  were  overflowing  with  thoughts  of  coming  happiness, 


320  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

our  hearts  were  heavy  with  the  knowledge  that  we  had  said 
farewell  and  forever,  to  the  Fourteenth  Corps,  and  the  to 
Army  of  the  Cumberland.  Our  only  consolation  was  the 
belief  that  among  the  more  than  two  hundred  regiments  of 
Infantry  in  Sherman's  marching  host  we  could  truthfully 
lay  claim  to  brotherhood  with  the  bravest  and  the  best. 

Adieu  to  Infantrymen,  Artillerymen,  Cavalrymen  and 
Engineers  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland!  Adieu  to  all 
comrades,  both  of  rank  and  file,  and  to  comrade  field  officers 
as  well,  for  our  marching  and  fighting  days  are  ended!  We 
shall  soon  have  our  honorable  discharges,  yet  nothing  can 
ever  diminish  the  part  we  have  had  in  the  Nation's  deliver 
ance.  The  cars  are  bringing  us  swiftly  home,  but  the  sound 
of  their  rattling  wheels  is  forming  itself  into  seeming  words : 
"Old  Pap  Thorn!  Old  Pap  Thorn!  Old  Pap  Thorn!"  "Old 
Tecum!  Old  Tecum!  Old  Tecum!"  "Army  of  the  Cum! 
Army  of  the  Cum!  Army  of  the  Cum!"  as  we  travel  toward 
Lake  Michigan.  On  the  tenth  of  June  the  Regiment  was 
back  in  Chattanooga;  on  the  thirteenth  it  was  in  Nashville; 
on  the  fifteenth  in  Louisville,  and  on  the  seventeenth  we 
were  once  more  among  the  dear  people  of  Chicago.  The 
eighteenth  of  June  we  took  up  our  temporary  abode  in  Camp 
Fry,  far  over  on  the  North  Side,  but  not  until  the  ninth  of 
July  the  Paymaster  having  settled  Uncle  Sam's  indebted 
ness  to  us,  and  the  muster-out  rolls  being  duly  approved  by 
proper  authorities,  did  we  receive  those  precious  documents, 
our  Honorable  Discharges  from  service  in  the  Union  armies. 
We  had  served  "Father  Abraham"  and  his  Government 
faithfully  and  loyally  for  three  years,  two  months,  and  six 
teen  days.  "Battle's  magnificently  stern  array,"  and  in  the 
van  of  which  we  had  so  often  been,  was  far  from  us  now;  but 
we  were  to  become  "ancients  of  the  earth,  and  in  the  morning 
of  the  times." 


CHAPTER  X. 

PAGE 

THE  GRAND  REVIEW  AT  WASHINGTON 324 

AUTEM  ECCE   ALTERUM    (Birr,    BEHOLD   THE   OTHER 

SIDE)  .   334 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  323 


CHAPTER  X. 

During  the  winter  of  1863-64,  also  just  previous  to  our 
leaving  the  front  for  final  muster-out,  a  goodly  number  of 
the  men  in  the  Nineteenth  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Soldiers 
and  this  fact  gives  our  Regiment  something  of  a  claim  on 
the  Grand  Review  at  Washington  at  the  close  of  the  War. 
For  if  it  was  not  among  the  marching  battalions  which 
peopled  Pennsylvania  Avenue  with  victorious  heroes  from 
the  West  on  that  forever  memorable  twenty-fourth  of  May, 
1865,  it  certainly  was  represented  there  by  some  of  those  who 
had  been  our  gallant  comrades  in  many  battles,  hence  we  are 
impelled  to  bring  this  work  to  a  close  with  brief  account, 
gathered  from  various  reliable  sources,  of  an  unparalleled 
military  array,  when  once  mighty  armies  marched  for  the 
last  time  behind  the  tattered  Emblems  of  the  Republic 
they  had  helped  to  save. 

Knowing  the  impatience  of  the  Country's  citizen  soldiers 
to  return  to  their  homes,  President  Johnson  and  Lieutenant 
General  Grant  ordered  a  Grand  Review  of  the  two  great 
forces  which  had  converged  at  and  near  the  Nation's  Capital 
after  the  terms  of  Peace  had  been  dictated  and  accepted. 
These  two  forces  were  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  the 
combined  armies  of  the  Tennessee  and  of  Georgia.  For 
four  years  those  Union  heroes  had  been  marching  and  bat 
tling  in  the  Southland,  and  now  the  parting  was  at  hand; 
beyond  this  coming  and  magnificent  pageant  lay  reunion  with 
friends  and  relatives  who  had  not  been  seen  in  several  years, 
and  there  was  a*i  enthusiasm,  an  emotion  in  every  man's 


324  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

bearing  such  as  was  never  known  before  in  the  histories  of 
war. 

The  appointed  days,  May  23-24,  1865,  dawned  at  last. 
The  sky  was  as  blue  as  a  turquoise  new-mined  from  the  dark, 
and  the  May  breeze  toyed  with  blossoms  and  green  boughs. 
The  Capital  was  covered  with  the  Nation's  Flags,  every 
where  flowers  and  tri-colored  bunting  smiled  on  one  another, 
and  the  Government,  with  a  host  of  illustrious  guests,  was 
present  to  witness  this  last  display  of  the  pomp  and  circum 
stance  of  a  War  of  Rebellion  that  had  lasted  for  four  long 
years. 

Along  Pennsylvania  Avenue  they  marched,  those  gallant 
Boys  in  Blue  for  whom  a  vast  and  applauding  throng  had 
long  been  waiting.     On  Tuesday  it  was  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  150,000  men,  led  by  Major  General  Meade,  the 
the  conqueror  of  Lee  at  Gettysburg;  men  who  had  followed 
every  step  of  tne  Virginia  Campaigns.     On  Wednesday  it 
was  Sherman's  mighty  force — men  who  had  tramped  thous 
ands  of  miles  through  the  heart  of  the  Southland.     Each 
force  had  its  own  characteristics,  its  own  local  colors,  its 
own  display,  and  each  had  its  vast  multitude  of  enthusiastic 
admirers,  all  these  welcoming  the  returning  home  of  the 
Nation's  warriors.     We  shall  deal  only  with  the  Grand  Re 
view  of  the  second  day,  however;  and  on  that  day,  at  the 
head  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  rode  Major  General 
John  A.  Logan,  as  its  Commander.     It  was  a  place  of  honor 
and  distinction  that  he  had  long  since  won,  notably  in  the 
night  battle  before  Atlanta;  but  it  was  only  now  that  "Black 
Jack,"  the  greatest  Volunteer  General  of  the  Civil  War, 
had  come  into  his  own,  as  the  Commander  of  a  grand  fighting 
and  victorious  Army.     With  the  precision  of  military  dis 
cipline  and  long  experience,  those  Western  soldiers  marched, 
along  Pennsylvania  Avenue  by   columns,  company  after 
company,  regiments  ditto,  brigades,  divisions,  and  corps  as 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  325 

well,  with  Logan  riding  at  their  head,  a  magnificent  man 
on  his  war  steed.  Bayonets  were  gleaming  a  forest  of  steel  in 
the  bright  sunshine.  Regimental  Flags,  torn  and  tattered— 

"A  bit  of  faded  stuff,  a  rag, 
And  yet  a  thing  to  die  for!" 

garlanded  now  with  flowers,  and  held  proudly  aloft  before 
the  faces  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  and  his  Cab 
inet,  their  illustrious  guests,  and  the  Commanding  Generals; 
and  Oh,  how  the  "Old  Boys"  who  had  followed  those  Flags 
through  so  many  perils  and  dangers  must  have  been  thrilled 
as  they  looked  on  the  bullet-pierced  Colors  which  had  been 
their  guidance  on  so  many  battlefields!  And  the  bands 
played  their  choicest  airs  of  war,  of  camp,  of  exultation,  of 
peacefulness,  as  those  Western  soldiers  paraded  before  the 
distinguished  personages  who  stood  upon  the  reviewing 
platforms !  See  those  conquerors  in  ragged  uniforms  march 
ing — not  to  war  now,  but  as  though  each  individual  one  of 
them  were  going  to  dine  with  the  Nation's  President  just  as 
soon  as  the  Grand  Review  was  over!  See  them,  marching 
as  on  a  prize  drill  competition,  not  missing  a  step,  nor  losing 
sight  of  that  elbow-to-elbow  touch,  or  those  inches  of  dis 
tance  between  back  and  breast  of  rear  and  foremost  rank; 
eyes  to  the  front  as  become  well-disciplined,  thoughtful 
troops,  their  unsurpassable  swing  speaking  of  days  and 
months  and  years  which  knew  next  to  nothing  of  defeat, 
even  at  the  hands  of  equally  gallant,  equally  courageous 
soldiers  of  the  South  whom  they  had  been  "running  up 
against"  during  a  stubborn  contest  that  never  should  have 
been! 

Hep,  hep,  hep!  left,  left,  left!  how  the  tread  of  those 
thousands  on  thousands  of  victorious  Boys  in  Blue  must 
have  fired  the  imagination  and  quickened  the  blood  of  the 


326  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

vast  multitude  which  filled  the  Nation's  Capital  that  May 
day  of  nearly  half  a  century  ago !  Not  Sparta  after  Platea, 
nor  France  after  Austerlitz,  nor  new-born  America  after  the 
fall  of  Yorktown,  beheld  a  more  glorious  or  a  more  satisfying 
sight.  Not  Rome,  back  in  the  ancient  days  of  her  highest 
grandeur,  kept  such  a  feast  to  the  War  God  Mars  as  was  wit 
nessed  during  those  two  days  of  the  memorable  Grand  Re 
view  at  Washington  in  May,  1865.  Yet  no  sordid  ambition 
for  military  despotism  disturbed  the  mind  or  thought  of 
those  home-comers  who  had  fought  the  fight  set  them.  The 
combat  and  the  camp,  the  battle  and  the  bivouac,  the  danger 
and  the  disease,  the  short  rations  and  the  need  of  clothing, 
the  silent  grief  over  the  loss  of  another  dear  comrade  and  the 
dread  of  prison-pen,  the  longing  for  news  from  the  beloved 
ones  up  in  "God's  Country" — all  these  and  many  another 
memory  were  to  be  put  aside  on  the  morrow;  for  on  the  mor 
row  these  mighty  armies  were  to  be  made,  as  in  the  twink 
ling  of  an  eye,  into  a  mighty  industrial  force  that  was  now 
to  rebuild  the  Nation's  strength  and  bring  blessings  to  a  re 
united  land. 

We  have  before  us  at  the  present  moment,  indeed  it  is 
from  it  that  we  are  about  to  quote,  an  original  copy  of  the 
New  York  Tribune  bearing  the  date  of  Thurdsay,  May  25, 
1865,  and  on  its  first  page  (one  column  and  over)  is  the  fol 
lowing  special  dispatch  from  Washington,  dated  the  day  pre 
viously:  "We  have  had  another  bright  and  in  all  other 
respects  charming  day  for  the  review  of  the  Armies  of  Ten 
nessee  and  Georgia.  The  sidewalks  of  Pennsylvania  Av 
enue,  at  all  elevated  points,  were  today,  as  yesterday,  occu 
pied  by  deeply  interested  spectators.  Fresh  arrivals  this 
morning  augmented  the  already  large  number  of  strangers 
who  had  especially  visited  Washington  to  witness  the  Grand 
Military  Parade.  The  tastefully  decorated  stands  near  the 
Executive  Mansion  were  again  occupied  by  President 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  327 

Johnson,  members  of  the  Cabinet,  and  Lieutenant  General 
Grant,  together  with  distinguished  army  and  navy  officers, 
Chiefs  of  Executive  Bureaus,  the  Diplomatic  Corps  and 
their  families,  and  other  personages.  The  vicinity  of  the 
reviewing  point  was  densely  crowded  over  a  larger  area  than 
yesterday,  this  locality  being  the  most  attractive. 

uThe  Army  of  the  Tennessee  moved  from  the  Capital 
at  nine  o'clock  this  morning,  proceeding  toward  the  Exec 
utive  Mansion.  At  the  head  of  the  column  rode  Major 
General  Sherman,  who  was  vociferously  cheered  all  along 
the  line,  while  many  clapped  their  hands,  and  others  waved 
their  handkerchiefs  and  miniature  flags.  The  greeting  of 
this  hero  was  in  the  highest  degree  enthusiastic.  He  had 
been  presented  with  two  large  wreaths  of  flowers,  one  of 
which  had  been  placed  around  his  horse's  neck,  the  other 
hung  upon  his  own  shoulder.  Sherman  was  accompanied 
by  Major  General  O.  0.  Howard,  formerly  in  command  of 
the  Army  of  the  Tennessee.  Next  following  Major  General 
John  A.  Logan,  Staff,  and  Escort.  He  yesterday  assumed 
command  of  this  Army,  and  rode  at  the  head  of  it.  Until 
yesterday  he  commanded  the  Fifteenth  Corps,  composed  of 
troops  from  Michigan,  Missouri,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Minnesota, 
Illinois,  Iowa,  and  Wisconsin.  The  Seventeenth  Corps 
came  next,  preceded  by  its  commander,  Major  General 
Frank  P.  Blair,  Jr.,  his  Staff,  and  Escort.  The  troops  of 
this  Corps  are  from  Illinois,  Ohio,  New  York,  Wisconsin, 
Indiana,  Minnesota  and  Michigan. 

"The  next  in  review  was  the  Army  of  Georgia,  Major 
General  Henry  W.  Slocum  commanding,  who  rode  at  the 
head  of  this  column .  The  Twentieth  Corps  was  commanded 
by  Major  General  Joseph  A.  Mower,  and  it  included  volun 
teers  from  Connecticut,  Pennsylvania,  New  York,  Wiscon 
sin,  Massachusetts,  Ohio,  Delaware,  Indiana  and  Michigan. 
This  was  succeeded  by  the  Fourteenth  Corps,  Brevet  Major 


328  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

General  Jeff.  C.  Davis  commanding.  It  was  composed  of 
Volunteers  from  Illinois,  Wisconsin,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Michigan 
Kentucky,  Minnesota  and  New  York.  The  respective 
commanders  of  the  Armies,  Corps,  Division,  and  Brigades 
bore  upon  their  persons  profusions  of  flowers,  which  had  been 
bestowed  in  acknowledgment  of  their  heroic  deeds;  and  as 
they  passed  along  the  line  cheers  were  given,  and  handker 
chiefs  and  flags  were  waved,  by  those  who  chose  this  mode  of 
testifying  their  gratitude  for  the  gallant  services  of  both 
officers  and  men.  None  seemed  to  be  weary  of  continuous 
gazing  at  the  troops,  as  there  was  always  presented  something 
of  increased  interest.  The  Armies  represented  all  branches 
and  divisions  of  the  service — Cavalry,  Artillery,  and  In 
fantry,  with  sufficient  variety  in  trimmings  and  appoint 
ments  to  relieve  the  general  sameness  of  uniform;  and  several 
regiments  of  Zouaves  contributed  to  produce  this  effect. 
There  was  an  extensive  flashing  of  drawn  swords,  bayonets, 
and  polished  brass  cannon  in  the  clear  sunlight.  Sections 
of  pontoon-bridges,  ambulances,  stretchers,  even  heavy 
wagons,  were  features  in  the  procession.  There  was  also 
a  fair  representation  of  the  spade  and  axe  department,  the 
implements  being  carried  on  the  shoulders  of  both  white  and 
black  soldiers.  Much  amusement  was  occasioned  by  a  dis 
play  of  pack  horses  and  mules.  These  were  all  heavily 
loaded  with  commissary  supplies,  including  chickens.*  A 
coon,  a  dog  and  a  goat  were  comfortably  fastened  to  three 
of  the  saddles;  these  were  soldiers'  pets. 

"An  interesting  feature  in  the  Grand  Parade  was  the  ex 
hibition  of  Flags  and  Banners  of  various  patterns,  some  of 
them  entirely  new;  others  were  carried,  torn  by  bullets  and 
reduced  to  shreds;  while  others,  entire  as  to  material,  were 
faded  by  exposure  to  the  weather  or  blackened  by  the  smoke 
of  battle.  Several  staffs  were  carried,  from  which  the 

*Oh,  yes!     Chickens  included  in  Commissary  supplies — don't  you   remember,  boys? 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  329 

Flags  had  been  shot  away.  All  the  spear-heads  were  orna 
mented  with  flowers  either  in  bouquets  or  wreaths.  It  was 
remarked,  as  in  contrast  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  that 
the  troops  comprising  the  Armies  of  Georgia  and  Tennessee 
wore  the  wide-brim  felt  hats,  regulation  pattern.  Their 
appearance  in  all  respects  was  equal  to  that  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  notwithstanding  they  had  performed  more 
marching  service.  Their  general  movements  were  much 
admired  and  accordingly  applauded.  The  Commander  of 
each  Army,  and  Corps,  and  Division,  attended  by  one  Staff 
Officer,  dismounted  after  passing  the  General-in-Chief,  and 
joined  him  until  that  Division,  Corps,  or  Army  had  passed 
the  reviewing  stand,  when  he  remounted  and  rejoined  his 
command.  Officers  commanding  regiments  presented  swords 
on  passing  the  Reviewing  Officer,  but  company  officers  were 
not  required  to  make  such  salutes.  Brigade  bands,  or  con 
solidated  field  music,  turned  out  and  played  as  their  Brigades 
passed.  One  band  to  each  Division  performed  during  the 
march  from  the  Capitol  to  the  Treasury  Building.  After 
the  troops  passed  the  Reviewing  Officer,  they  were  marched 
to  their  respective  quarters.  The  two  Armies  occupied  six 
hours  in  passing — the  same  length  of  time  required  yester 
day  for  the  review  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac." 

The  rest  of  the  first  page  of  the  Tribune  is  filled  with  the 
names  of  the  different  organizations  which  passed  in  review 
before  President  Johnson  and  Lieutenant  General  Grant 
on  that  day.  On  the  editorial  page  within  we  find  the  fol 
lowing  : 

THE  GRAND  REVIEW. 

Such  a  spectacle  as  no  other  Continent  ever  saw,  as  this 
Continent  will  never  see  again,  ended  yesterday.  The  great 
Armies  that  have  saved  the  Union  passed  up  Pennsylvania 
Avenue,  out  of  mortal  sight  and  into  everlasting  history. 


330  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

Henceforth  they  exist  only  in  name.  The  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  the  Army  of  Georgia 
—they  are  names  to  conjure  with  forever,  but  the  terrible 
force  of  them  in  battle  has  been  wielded  for  four  years  only 
to  vanish  in  a  day,  and  to  leave  behind  them  results  greater 
than  themselves.  Such  a  pageant  as  yesterday  and  the  day 
before  witnessed  is  an  event  that  has  to  search  wide  for  prec 
edent  or  parallel.  From  the  time  of  Napoleon  when  one  or 
two  spectacles  possibly  equalled  this  in  mere  numbers,  there 
is  nothing  to  help  the  flight  of  the  imagination  till  far  back 
in  ancient  history  where  we  may  fancy  the  myriads  of  Darius 
passing  in  review  before  the  tragedy  of  Arbela  had  piled  the 
Persian  host  in  hetacombs  on  the  plain  which  their  Mace 
donian  conquerors  trod.  But  the  great  armies  of  old  history, 
of  Darius  or  Xerxes,  are  shadow's,  while  the  great  armies  of 
today  are  living  and  breathing  men.  Those  were  the  slavish 
instruments  of  tyranny  and  ambition;  these  are  the  right 
hands  of  a  Nation  struggling  for  its  own  life  and  the  immor 
tality  of  the  Republic.  And  these  Armies  of  ours  passed  in 
review  before  no  ordinary  spectators.  The  Armies  themselves 
—what  are  they?  The  Two  Hundred  Thousand  Men 
who  have  tramped  with  feet  of  flesh  and  blood  by  the 
White  House  —  who  are  they  but  the  sad  survivors 
of  successive  Armies  of  Dead  Heroes  whose  earlier  fate 
gave  life  to  their  remaining  Comrades  and  to  the 
Republic?  Past  what  do  they  file  in  quick  procession 
Tuesday  and  Wednesday  of  this  week  and  this  mem 
orable  year?  Past  a  tenantless  White  House  from  which 
has  gone  out  the  dead  corse  of  him  who  had  earned 
the  right  to  view  this  triumphal  march!  We  know  not  on 
which  to  think  most  sorrowfully — the  emptiness  of  the 
President's  Mansion  or  the  thinness' of  these  soldier-ranks, 
where  every  living  man  seems  to  be  accompanied  by  innum 
erable  shadows  of  departed  Patriot  Warriors.  Illustrious 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  331 

Dead  are  they  all — more  illustrious  than  any  living,  possessed 
of  a  more  sacred  and  enduring  fame  than  any  who  yet  tread 
this  whirling  globe.  Nor  is  the  mind  carried  backward 
only  in  its  survey  of  this  miraculous  procession.  We  think 
of  those  who  look  on,  as  well  as  of  those  who  pass  by.  There 
stands  the  President  whose  hands  are  uplifted  by  those 
thronging  thousands  and  who  sees  in  them  the  visible  sup 
port  of  his  Government.  There  is  the  great  Commander 
whose  all-embracing  genius  has  saved  the  Nation.  There 
are  the  Representatives  of  the  Executive,  Legislative, 
Judicial  Departments — each  one  thankful  to  the  Army  that 
he  has  a  department  to  administer.  There  are  the  Diplo 
matic  Representatives  of  the  Great  Powers  of  Christendom 
— gazing  with  earnest  eyes  on  this  demonstration  of  the 
greatest  Power  of  all;  conscious  that  no  European  Sover 
eignty  could  match  this  marvelous  demonstration  of  Demo 
cratic  supremacy.  And  there — whether  far  or  near,  whether 
from  the  steps  of  the  White  House  or  from  the  prairies  of 
the  West,  or  the  shores  of  the  Atlantic,  or  the  summits  of 
the  mountains  which  divide  a  Continent — there  is  the 
American  People  looking  reverently,  admiringly,  affection 
ately  on  this  March  of  their  Brothers  through  their  Capital 
and  like  them  inspired,  uplifted,  and  strengthened  by  the 
occasion.  No  need  to  draw  a  lesson  from  it — still  less  to 
applaud  those  who  make  part  of  it.  We  but  echo  the  cry 
of  the  Army  and  of  the  People  into  whom  the  Army  will  in 
a  moment  melt,  "Long  Live  the  Republic — one  and  indi 
visible  forever!" 

THE  TRIBUTE  OF  A  FAMOUS  JOURNALIST. 

Among  the  few  distinguished  representatives  of  the  press 
at  the  front  in  those  days  of  war  was  Mr.  Charles  A.  Page, 
who,  although  connected  with  a  great  New  York  newspaper, 


332  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

was  born  on  a  farm  near  Dixon,  in  Lee  County,  Illinois, 
therefore  to  be  included  among  us,  in  a  way,  as  a  man  from 
the  "Sucker"  State.  The  evening  of  Wednesday,  May  24, 
he  wrote  his  paper:  "The  Grand  Review  is  over.  Two 
days  of  deserved  apotheosis  of  the  two  Great  Armies  of  the 
Republic  have  come  and  gone,  and  150,000  veterans  have 
been  reviewed,  not  merely  by  Grant  and  Sherman  and  Meade 
and  Logan,  but  by  the  people,  the  grateful  millions.  To 
civilians  looking  on,  perhaps  the  most  amazing  thing  was  the 
numbers  that  marched  by.  Unused  to  armies,  they  sat 
seven  hours  yesterday  and  seven  hours  today,  while  the  men 
with  sabres  and  the  men  with  bayonets,  in  close  order  and 
at  brisk  pace,  marched  past,  and  still  the  wonder  grew  where 
all  the  soldiers  came  from.  And  yet  only  one-quarter  of 
the  loyal  forces  now  under  arms  in  the  country  were  seen  by 
them.  So  the  dense,  swift,  long  columns  were  the  greatest 
wonder,  because  they  were  dense  and  swift  and  long.  The 
next  wonder  was  that  the  soldiers  seemed  so  little  excited. 
They  tramped  along  with  a  certain  easy,  satisfied,  every-day 
nonchalance  that  was  the  perfection  of  nil  admirari.  They 
scarcely  looked  right  or  left,  and  any  pride  and  exultation  they 
did  show  was  prim  and  bronzed  like  their  faces  and  their 
uniform.  There  were,  however,  some  exceptions.  When  a 
shout  of  'Hurrah  for  Massachusetts!'  would  be  raised  by  a 
group  of  Bay  State  spectators,  or  an  enthusiastic  'Sucker' 
would  call  for  and  get  rousing  cheers  for  Illinois,  as  regiments 
from  their  respective  States  passed  by,  then  the  rank  and 
file  would  look  eagerly  to  where  the  shout  came  from,  and 
scan  each  man's  face  as  though  hoping  to  see  a  familiar  one. 
Again,  when  a  Colonel  on  passing  the  main  Pavilion  would 
ask  for  cheers  for  the  President  and  General  Grant,  the 
imperturbable  faces  would  become  transfigured  into  wild 
animation  and  pride,  and  old  rusty  hats,  grasped  by  tawny 
hands  and  swung  high  by  brawny  arms,  would  circle  in  the 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  333 

air,  while  lungs  made  strong  by  year&  in  trie  field,  and  throats 
familiar  with  the  whoop  of  the  charge  and  the  cheer  of  vic 
tory,  would  send  up  a  noise  like  that  of  the  many  waters  of 
many  Niagaras.  And  yet  not  one  in  fifty  would  turn  his  eyes 
to  see  the  faces  of  those  they  were  cheering.  Whether  the 
seeming  want  of  curiosity  was  the  result  of  discipline  which 
commanded  'eyes  to  the  front/  or  whether  they  really  did 
not  deign  to  appear  to  be  curious,  I  can't  say. 

"To  the  stranger  in  Washington  who  had  never  seen  the 
men  on  that  main  Pavilion,  it  was  well  worth  while  the  rush 
ing  up  as  the  rear  of  a  Division  or  Corps  passed,  the  hurried 
glance,  and  the  scamper  back  when  the  head  of  the  next 
column  approached.  There  were  the  Preside.it  and  Cabinet, 
Grant,  Sherman,  Meade,  Logan,  Hancock,  Howard,  Slocum, 
Hunter,  Humphreys,  and  fifty  others  only  less  famous. 

.  One  thing,  both  yesterday  and  today,  never  failed 
to  call  forth  cheers,  and  that  was  the  old  Flags,  the  tattered, 
torn,  stained  Flags,  frayed  to  shreds,  staffs  with  a  few 
sprays  of  a  lint-like-silk — these  were  loudly  cheered  time 
after  time.  One  regiment  had  affixed  to  an  old  staff,  to 
which  still  clung  a  few  shreds  of  the  old  Flag,  a  score  of 
bright  new  streamers,  each  having  the  name  of  one  of  the 
battles  of  the  regiment — and  wasn't  that  cheered! 

"The  Army  of  the  Potomac  reviewed  yesterday  is  mainly 
composed  of  Eastern  troops,  while  the  Army  of  Georgia 
(Slocum's),  and  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  (Logan's),  are 
mainly  Western  troops.  The  exception  in  the  former  case 
consists  in  a  dozen  Western  regiments  scattered  through  the 
different  Divisions.  In  the  latter  the  exception  is  the 
Twentieth  Corps  (the  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  consolidated) 
which  went  West  under  Hooker.  Naturally  a  comparison 
was  provoked  in  the  minds  of  the  spectators  between  these 
Eastern  and  Western  troops.  It  was  noted  that  the  West 
ern  men  had  the  advantage  in  physique,  were  taller  men, 


334  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

with  fewer  boys,  and  scarcely  any  foreigners  among  them, 
that  their  marching  step  was  several  inches  longer — officers 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  conceded  that  they  marched 
better,  that  they  moved  with  an  elastic,  springy,  swinging 
step  that  does  not  belong  to  the  Eastern  boys,  and  that 
their  faces  were  more  intelligent,  self-reliant,  and  determined. 
One  could  not  distinguish  officers  from  men  except  by  their 
uniforms;  the  privates  and  the  officers  seemed  equal  in  in 
telligence  and  ma.ily  bearing,  and  in  station  when  at  home. 
It  was  remarkable  to  see  how  the  Twentieth 
Corps,  transplanted,  as  it  had  been,  from  the  East,  had 
taken  on  many  of  the  characteristics  of  their  new  comrades. 
They  had  learned  the  same  swinging  stride,  exchanged  caps 
for  hats,  and  become  military  cosmopolites.  .  .  .  And 
so  the  last  Review  is  over.  The  War  is  over.  The  boys 
are  going  home.  'When  shall  their  Glory  fade?'  ' 


AUTEM  ECCE  ALTERUM. 

(But,  behold  the  other  side!) 

But  there  is  another  side  to  the  brilliant  and  touching 
picture  of  some  forty-eight  or  fifty  years  ago — that  of  the 
return  of  the  defeated  Armies  of  Dixie  Land.  Not  in 
martial  ranks,  not  with  bands  playing  and  regimental  colors 
flying  in  the  bright  Spring  atmosphere,  not  marching 
proudly  before  their  Confederate  Preside.it,  but  in  single, 
in  scattered  groups,  straggling  and  struggling  backward 
from  the  fields  of  great  battles  where  they  nad  so  bravely 
fought,  thousands  of  them  broken  in  health,  every  one  and 
all  more  or  less  a  victim  of  deprivation  in  camp  or  on  the 
march;  old  boys  in  tattered  uniforms,  many  of  them  shoeless, 
all  with  bellies  empty  until  Grant  said,  "Give  them  rations 
till  they  no  longer  faint  with  hunger."  They,  the  flower  and 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  335 

the  hope  of  the  Southland  in  its  unwise  and  disloyal  attempts 
to  destroy  the  Union,  returned  to  their  homes  by  virtue  of 
the  human  goodness  and  the  fraternal  sympathy  of  their 
Conqueror.  And  yet  it  was  not  all  darkness  and  dread  they 
faced  when  their  weary  footsteps  brought  the  Boys  in  Gray 
to  their  own  again;  for  by  the  ashes  of  places  which  had  once 
been  their  homes  these  returning  "Johnnies"  found  a-bloom 
the  rarest  flower  that  breaks  the  calyx  of  years — the  love  and 
sympathy  of  tender  women — mothers  and  sisters,  wives  and 
sweethearts,  even  of  the  colored  servants,  many  of  whom 
had  remained  faithful  to  the  ties  that  bound  them  to  "Ole 
Massa"  and  "Ole  Misses"  through  the  dread  weeks  and 
months  of  frightful  rebellion.  And  it  was  with  this  rare 
flower  on  their  breasts,  so  to  speak,  that  those  defeated  sol 
diers  with  whom  we  so  often  fought,  set  themselves  to  teach 
the  world  the  hardest  lesson  of  War,  that  of  how  to  work 
after  defeat,  of  how,  now  that  the  sword  was  sheathed,  the 
bayonet  turned  into  a  sickle,  the  cannon  dismantled,  the 
flags  beyond  their  reach,  to  become  people  of  the  earth  again. 
We  often  tackled  them,  "we'uns  "  of  the  Nineteenth,  and  we 
know  they  were  indeed  a  brave  and  sturdy  race  of  men.  If 
they  had  not  been  the  War  would  have  lasted  hardly  a  year; 
and  that  they  were  a  brave  and  sturdy  race  is  to  our  eternal 
glory,  for  it  was  men  of  courage  and  valor  whom  we  defeated 
during  the  Civil  War.  One  of  their  own  best  fighters  has 
expressed  it  as  a  consolation  that  they  were  beaten,  not  by  an 
external  foe,  but  by  those  of  their  own  flesh  and  blood. 
Therefore,  a  toast:  "Our  former  foes,  our  present  friends!" 
They  are  not  to  be  classed  under  any  ordinary  description. 
Valete  ac  plaudite. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  337 


HONOR  ROLL. 

THE  LONG  (PARTIAL  ONLY)  DEATH  ROLL. 


COMMISSIONED  FIELD  AND  LINE  OFFICERS. 


DATE  OF  WHERE  AND  PLACE  OF 

DEATH.  HOW.  BURIAL. 


BRIG.  GENERAL. 
Turchin,  John  B.    June  18,  1901  Random,  111. 

COLONEL. 
Scott,  Joseph  R.      July  8,  1863      Chicago,  of  w'ds 

in  battle  Gracel'd  Cm, 

LIEUT.  COLONEL. 
Raff  en,  Alex.  W.     Apr.  24,  1901    Chicago  Rosehill  Cm. 

MAJOR. 

Guthrie,  Jas.  V.      May,  1906 
Harding,  Fred'k 

SURGEON. 
Bogue,  R.  G.  Dec.  8,  1893  Rosehill  Cm  , 

ASST.  SURGEON. 
Blake,  Sam'l  C.      Feb.  5,  1897  Oakw'ds  Cm. 

CHAPLAIN. 
Conant,  Rev.  A.  H.  Feb.  8,  1863 

ADJUTANT. 

Bell,  V.  B.  Detroit 

Miller,  Chauncey    Jan.  16,  1880    Salt  Lake  City     Elmw'd  Cm. 
QUARTERMASTER. 
Wetherell,  R.  E. 


338 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 


COMMISSIONED 

FIELD  AND  LINE  OFFICERS—  Continued. 

NAME. 

DATE  OF                 WHERE  AND 
DEATH.                         HOW. 

PLACE  OF 
BURIAL. 

CAPTAINS. 

Calhoun,  Wm.  A. 

Jan.  24,  1907    Chicago 

Campbell,  Jas.  G. 

1911                  Bakersfield,  Cal. 

Chandler,  K.  H. 

Jan.  2,  1863      Killed  at  Battle 

Stone  River 

Colby,  Chas.  A. 

Sept.  28,  1888  Louisville,  Ky. 

Guthrie,  Pres.  N. 

Feb.,  1902        Pittsburg,  Pa. 

Hayden,  Jas.  R. 

Nov.  15,  1902  Seattle 

Howard,  B.  B. 

Sept.  17,  1861  Killed  Sept,    17, 

1861 

Murchison,  Alex.  " 

Feb.  3,  1903     Kewanee,  111. 

Shepley,  Chas.  H. 

Mar.  2,  1862    Killed 

Stuart,  Charles 

June  9,  1889     Osceola,  111. 

A.  A.  G. 

Curtis,  Wm.  B. 

On.  Mt.  Wash't/n 

DRUM  MAJOR. 

Nevans,  William 

Mar.  27,  1894  Chicago 

LIEUTENANTS. 

Beatty,  Thos.  M. 

Mar.  15,  1904 

Boone,  Sam.  S. 

Feb.  15,  1892 

Rosehill  Cm. 

Eames,  Oliver  E. 

Feb.  1,  1907 

Hunter,  J.  H. 

Jan.  9,  1863 

Jackson,  Wm. 

Dec.  10,  1897   Elmira,  111. 

Job,  Thos.  L. 

July  18,  1861    Hannibal,     Mo., 

killed 

Keeler,  L.  J. 

Mar.  20,  1880 

Lamberson,  C.  V. 

Chicago 

St.     Boniface 

Cm. 

Raffen,  J.  W. 

Mar.  28,  1886 

Gracel'd  Cm. 

THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 


339 


COMMISSIONED  FIELD  AND  LINE   OFFICERS — Continued. 


NAME. 


DATE  OF 
DEATH. 


WHERE  AND 
HOW. 


PLACE  OF 
BURIAL. 


LIEUTENANTS. 
Wharton,  Clif.  T. 
Wood,  Wellington  Jan.  5,  1863 

Q.  M.  SERGEANT. 
Downs,  H.  A.          Feb.  1,  1909     Chicago 


Quincy,  111. 
Of  wounds 


Ambrose,  M.  C. 
Berg,  George 
Bristol,  William 
Cherry,  John  G. 
Cleonewerck,  D.C. 


ENLISTED  MEN. 
COMPANY  A. 

June  17,  1894  Chicago 


Apr.  30,  1863 
Sept,  20,  1863 


Deitrich,  Henry  S.  July  8,  1909 
Fitch,  George  W. 
Cassette,  N.  T.       Mar.  26,  1891 
Hanley,  Thomas     July  21.  1863 


Hillas,  Robt.  B. 
Holmes,  D.  L. 
Kerr,  Charles 

Keebles,  Burr  B. 
Lane,  Charles 


Jan.  2,  1863 
Feb.  3,  1863 

Jan.  2,  1863 
Aug.  27,  1862 


Lee,  Timothy          Nov.  5,  1861 
Massey,  H.  R.  A. 


Chicago 
St.  Boniface 
Gracel'd  Cm. 
Killed 
Battle    Chicka- 

mauga,  killed  Atlanta,  Ga. 
Chicago  Chicago 

Elgin,  111.  Elgin,  111. 

Chicago  Rosehill  Cm. 

Huntsville,  Ala., 

of  wounds 

Dunlap,  Iowa  Dunlap,  Iowa 
Stone  Rvr.,  Kl'd  On  battlef'ld 
Nashville,  Tenn., 

of  wounds 

Stone  Rvr.,  Kl'd  On  battlef'ld 
Richmond  Creek, 

Tenn.,  killed 
Elizabethtown, 

Ky.  Calvary  Cm. 

Chicago  Calvary  Cm. 


340  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 


COMPANY  A — Continued. 

DATE  OF  WHERE  AND  PLACE  OF 

DEATH.  HOW.  BURIAL. 

McFarland,  G.  M.  June  25.  1863  Nashville,  of  wds. 
Mclntyre,  John  July  21,  1863  Tullahoma,  Tenn. 
McLean,  James  Mar.  4,  1880  Chicago  Rosehill  Cm. 

Metcalf,  F.  W.        Sept.  11,  1863  Near    Lafayette, 

Ga.,  killed 

Moore,  Chas.  A.      Dec.  31,  1862   Stone  Rvr.,  K'ld  On  battlefld 
Mulvey,  Chris.  A. 
Pease,  Ira  A.  Jan.  2,  1863 

Phiefer,  Nicholas    1867  Peoria,  111.  Detroit     Cm. 

Price,  Wm.  H.        Sept.  13,  1908  Chicago  Chicago 

Skinkle,  James  "  Gracel'd  Cm. 

Stewart,  James  Rosehill  Cm. 

Stickney,  A.  L.       June  1,  1904 
Sylvester,  Gushing  Oct.  6,  1883 
Trueman,  Geo.  S.   Jan.  11,  1863    At  home,  of  wds. 
Ultz,  George  Jan.  2,  1863     Stone  Rvr.,  Kl'd  On  battlefld 

Vahl,  August  Chattanooga 

Van  Brunt,  W.  H.  Oct.  17,  1887    Chicago  Rosehill  Cm. 

Warner,  Chas.  J.    Sept.  20, 1863  Battle    Chicka- 

mauga,  killed  Atlanta,  Ga. 
Winslow,  Zebedee  Oct.  18,  1908    Chicago  Chicago 

COMPANY  B. 

Jackson,  Sergt.  J.    Feb.  23,  1864  Killed  in  action 

near  Dalton,  Ga. 

Blackwell,  Chas.     Oct.  14,  1863    Chattanooga,  of 

wounds  Chattanooga 

Bullis,  Samuel  D.    1889  Adell,  Iowa          Adell,  Iowa 

Burrows,  Henry      Apr.  9,  1862     Louisville,  Ky. 

Cinnamon,  James  Florissant,  CoL 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  341 


COMPANY  B— Continued. 


NAME  DATE  OF  WHERE  AND  PLACE  OF 

DEATH.  HOW.  BURIAL. 

Duncan,  J.  G.         Mar.  11,  1872 

Fleming,  Wm.         1908 

Harsh,  Chester  P.  Apr.  11,  1863    Murfreesboro,  of 

wounds  Murfreesboro 

Horrigan,  Frank     May,  2,  1861    Pulaski,   Tenn., 

killed 

Hunter,  J.  H.          Jan.  9,  1863 
Hutchinson,  Geo.   Jan.  29,  1882    Stark  County,  111. 
Imes,  James  O.        Dec.  31, 1862    Stone  Rvr.,  kil'd  Battlefield 
Ingles,  William       Sept.  18,  1862  Nashville,  Tenn. 
Jackson,  David       Jany.  8,  1911 
Jordan,  Ed.  M.       Oct.  5,  1863      Chattanooga,  of 

wounds  Chattanooga 

Jordan,  Willard      Sept,  20,  1863  Chickamauga, 

killed 

Kenyon,  Isaac        Dec.  30,  1862   Stone  Rvr.,  kil'd  Battlefield 
Leason,  Chas.  N.    Dec.  31,  1862 
Meigs,  J.  C.  Dec.  4,  1901 

Merrill,  James         Mar.  17,  1891  Chicago  Rosehill   Cm. 

Montooth,  Sam'l    1899 

Morgan,  Cornelius  Sept.  15,  1861  Pilot  Knob,  Mo. 
Morgan,  Colum.     Jan.  7,  1863      Murfreesboro,  of 

wounds  Murfreesboro 

Newcombe,  W.  H.  Florissant,  Col. 

Oziah,  Thos.  W.      Mar.  21,  1908 
Pashley,  John  S. 
Pask,  J.  F.  Aug.  16,  1906 

Peebles,  Robert      July  11,  1883    Chicago  Calvary  Cm. 

Robinson,  Thos.  Kewanee,  111.,  of 

wounds 


342  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

COMPANY  B — Continued. 

DATE  OF  WHERE  AND  PLACE  OF 

IN  AJVlJi.. 

DEATH.  HOW.  BURIAL. 

Ryerson,  Geo.  N.    Jan.  2,  1863      Stone  Rvr.,  kil'd  Battlefield 
Stone,  George  H.     Nov.,  1894        Kewanee,  111.        Kewanee,  111. 

COMPANY  C. 
Borkvort,  Peter      Feb.  26,  1863   Stone  River,  of 

wounds  Nashville 

Chase,  Ira  J.*          May  11,  1895    Lubec,  Me.  Danville,  Ind. 

Davis,  Jas.  A.          Apr.  19,  1862   Tuscumbia,  Tenn., 

killed 

Flinn,  Michael  Calvary   Cm. 

Gould,  George        Nov.  28,  1863  Chattanooga,    of 

wounds  Chattanooga 

Hennesy,  M.  D.      June  17,  1893  Quincy,  111.  Quincy,  111. 

I  dear,  Charles  Killed 

Ives,  John  Sept.  27,  1912 

Keeler,  Louis  J.       Mar.  20,  1880  Chicago  Rosehill   Cm. 

Kelley,  James         Sept.  20,  1863  Chickamauga, 

killed  Chattanooga 

Kennedy,  Anthony 

Lincoln,  Fayall       July  20,  1872    Palatine,  111.         Palatine,    111. 
McKeeby,Edward  June,  1864        Killed 

McKeeby,  James    Jan.  30,  1882    Chicago  Gracel'd  Cm. 

Rodgers,  A.  Y.        Mar.  27,  1883        "  Rosehill  Cm. 

Smirnoff,  Alex.        Sept.  20, 1863   Chickamauga, 

killed 

Strothers,  Geo.  C.  Nov.  14,  1891  Quincy,  111.  Quincy,  111. 

Sweezy,  Henry        Jan.  3,  1863      Stone  River,  of 

wounds  M  urf  r  eesbor  o 

Tabor,  John  Sept.  20, 1863   Chickamauga, 

killed 

*Was  Governor  ot  Indiana. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  343 


COMPANY  C— Continued. 

DATE  OF  WHERE  AND  PLACE  OF 

DEATH.  HOW.  BURIAL. 

Tapley,  Mark  S.     1912 

Topp,  August  Died    in    Ander- 

sonville  Prison 
Wilson,  Thos.  J.      Mar.  8,  1895 

COMPANY  D. 

Aiken,  Alexander    Aug.  28,  1861   Ironton,  Mo.,  kid. 

Anderson,  A.  E.      Feb.  26,  1902  Mt.  Olive  Cm. 

Daggy,  H.  C.  Jan.  5,  1863      Murfreesboro,  of 

wounds 

Deer,  Jackson         Mar.  29,  1862  Nashville,  Tenn.  Nashville 

Dennis,  C.  W.         Mar.  13,  1862 

Ferris,  Charles        Jan.,  1911 

Gates,  Henry          Jan.  24,  1862    Bacon  Creek,Ky.  Bacon   Creek 

Goldsmith,  Alex.     Dec.  26,  1907 

Goldsmith,  J.  Dec.  31,  1862   Stone  River  of 

wounds  Battlefield 

Haynie,  J.  Henry    April  14, 1912    Newton    Centre, 

Mass. 

Holmes,  E.  O.         June  16,  1862  Winchester,  Tenn., 

killed 

Hutchins,  Ed.  W.  Chicago  Gracel'd  Cm. 

Madden,  Samuel     J#n.  25,  1863    Murfreesboro,  of 

wounds 

Mahoney,  Thos.      Dec.  9,  1863     Chattanooga,    of 

wounds  in  Bat 
tle  Chickamauga 

McCrackin,  Robt,  Jan.  2,  1863      Stone  River,  kid.  Battlefield 

Phillips,  Joseph       Jan.  29,  1862    Bacon  Creek, Ky.  Bacon  Creek 


344  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 


COMPANY  D— Continued. 


NAME  DATE  OF  WHERE  AND  PLACE  OF 

DEATH.  HOW.  BURIAL. 

Sandier,  Lewis  Died    in    Ander- 

sonville  Prison 
Stanger,  Jacob  B.    Aug.  11,  1909   Chicago  St.     Boniface 

Cm. 
Willard,  Thos.         Nov.,  1903       St.  Charles,  111.    St.  Charles 

COMPANY  E. 

Anderson,  Mat.       Sept,  29,  1862  Of  wounds  rec'd 

at  Chickamauga 
Austin,  Isaac  Mar.  5,  1862 

Bennett,  John  Soldiers'  Home   Quincy 

Bourk,  John  Apr.  11,  1862    Louisville,  Ky. 

Bremner,  Wm.  C.  Mar.  27,  1887  Chicago  Rosehill    Cm. 

Brosnahan,  John  Soldiers'  Home    Milwaukee 

Carmichael,  D.        Jan.  2,  1863      Nashville  Tenn.  Nashville 
Chield,  Charles  Soldiers'  Home   Quincy 

Fitzpatrick,  J.         Sept.  11,  1862  Nashville 
Fraser,Alex.McL.  Mar.  16,  1880 
Griswold,  Jos.  C.  Died    in    Ander- 

sonville  Prison 

Guthrie,  Peter  F.    Sept,  11,  1900  Chicago  Mt.  Olive 

Huntington,  J.  C.    Feb.  28,  1863    Nashville,of  wds.Nashville 
Irons,  Andrew  Chattanooga 

Joel,  George  Jan.  5,  1863      Murfreesboro,  of 

wounds  Murfreesboro 

Kelley,  Martin        Sept,  17,  1861  Killed 

Lawler,  Thos.  G.     Feb.  3,  1908     Rockford,  111.       Rockford,  111. 
Mann,  Andrew        Sept,  15,  1862  Nashville,  Tenn., 

killed  Nashville 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  345 


COMPANY  E — Continued. 

DATE  OF  WHERE  AND  PLACE  OF 

NAME. 

DEATH.  HOW.  BURIAL. 

McGraw,  James      Sept.  12,  1862  Nashville,  Tenn., 

killed 
Noble,  J.  G.  P.        Jan.  6,  1863      Murfreesboro,  of 

wounds  Murfreesboro 

O' Brian,  Daniel      Dec.  1,  1863     Chattanooga        Chattanooga 
Patterson,  Wm.      Nov.  25,  1863  Killed  at  Battle 

Missionary  Ridge 

Reynolds,  J.  H.      Apr.  16,  1900   Chicago  Calvary   Cm. 

Rimer,  John  July  4,  1863     Killed  Nashville 

Skipsey,  Joseph       Feb.  26,  1883 

Steel,  George  July  14,  1868    Chicago  Gracel'd  Cm. 

Strang,  Stephen      Oct.  1,  1862      Chattanooga 
Walsh,  Thos.  C.      Apr.  10,  1863    Chattanooga,    of 

wounds  Chattanooga 

Welch,  Thomas       Sept.  15, 1862  Nashville,  Tenn., 

killed  Nashville 

COMPANY  F. 

Job,  Lt.  Thos.  L.     July  18,  1861    Hannibal,     Mo., 

killed 
Afland,  Wm.  Jan.  15,  1863    Murfreesboro,  of 

wounds  Murfreesboro 

Bigby,  Green  Mar.  1,  1864     Chattanooga 

Bobbitt,  J.  W.  S.    Sept.  17, 1861   Killed 
Bobbitt,  S.  S.  A.     Nov.  25,  1863  Missionary  Ridge, 

killed 
Bouyer,  A.  J.  Sept,  20,  1863  Killed  at  Chicka- 

mauga  Battlefield 

Griffin,  Samuel        Dec.  31,  1862  Stone  River,  kid.  Murfreesboro 
Hodkinson,  J.          Oct.  5,  1861      Of  wounds 


340  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 


COMPANY  F — Continued. 


DATE  OF  WHERE  AND  PLACE  OF 

^  A  M  PJ  . 

DEATH.  HOW.  BURIAL. 


Kummell,  Jaques    June  3,  1894  Oakw'ds  Cm. 

Valentine,  C.  H.     Sept.  17,  1861  Killed  Rosehill   Cm. 

Voney,  Prosper       Nov.  27,  1863  Missionary  Ridge, 

of  wounds 

Slater,  Jas.  L.          Mar.  10,  1862  Of  wounds  Nashville 

Sullivan,  A.  J.         Dec.  11,  1884 

COMPANY  H. 

Benhain,  John  Mar.  6,  1863  Murfreesboro,  of 

wounds  Murfreesboro 

Benson,  Nels.  P.     Nov.  10,  1893  Moline,  111.          Moline,  111. 

Bergstrom,  S.          Sept.  24,  1898  Bloomington,  111.  Bloomington 

Brown,  Joseph  G. 

Gould,  M.  A.          Feb.  1,  1907      Moline,  111.          Moline,  111. 

Kerns,  George 

Lawrence,  Chas.  Sept.  20,  1863  Killed  at  Chicka- 

mauga 

Mapes,  L.  B.  Dec.  1894 

Maxham,  H.  C.  Died  in  Ander- 

sonville 

Maxwell,  Jesse        Dec.  31,  1862  Stone  River,  kid. 

Mead,  George  Died  in  Ander- 

sonville 

Thompson,  G.  G.    Apr.  1,  1890      Moline,  111.  Moline,  111. 

Van  Order,  C.         May  28,  1912  Chicago 

Walsh,  W.  L.  1897  Tremont 

Wheelock,  T.  D.     July,  1906         Moline,  111.  Moline,  111. 

Wheelock,  E.  E.      1910 

Williams,  J.  A.        Jan.  15,  1863    Nashville,  Tenn.  Nashville 

Wood,  Wm.  H.       Nov.  23,  1862 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 


347 


COMPANY  H — Continued. 


DATE  OF 
DEATH. 


WHERE  AND 
HOW. 


PLACE  OF 
BURIAL. 


Young,  Daniel  E.  Oct.  4,  1861      In  Ohio 

Young,  Samuel       Mar.  4,  1863     Nashville,  Tenn.  Nashville 

Youngs,  John  Y.     Sept.  1,  1863 


Barras,  Henry 
Barton,  John  R. 
Brown,  John 
Bruce,  Robert 
Carroll,  Lawrence 
Christian,  Wald. 
Clark,  Samuel 
Coleman,  Jacob 
Connelly,  M. 
Connor,  Henry 
Cowden,  Harrison 
Douglas,  John 
Frost,  William 
Galloway,  William 
Harwick,  Wm. 
Ingraham,  Jerr. 
Jones,  Lyman  M. 
Lamb,  Thomas 
Meather,  George 
Mensel,  Frederick 
Morrison,  Thos. 
Morrissey,  John 
Painter,  A.  H. 
Rhea,  Chas.  H. 


COMPANY    I. 

Sept.  17,  1861  Killed 
Oct.  10,  1863    Of  wounds 
Sept.  17,  1861    Killed 


Feb.  3,  1862      Louisville,  Ky. 
Sept,  17,  1861    Killed 


Oct.  4,  1862     Nashville,  Tenn.    Nashville 

Apr.  1,  1883    East  Wheeling,  111. 

July  23,  1862  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Feb.  22,  1864  Nashville 

Sept.  17,  1861   Killed 
1874  or  1875 


348 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 


COMPANY  I — Continued. 


NAME. 


DATE  OF 
DEATH. 


WHERE  AND 
HOW. 


PLACE  OF 
BURIAL. 


Rhine,  John  Oct.  17,  1861 

Ringer,  Wm. 

Roffner,  A. 

Schlosser,  Conrade  July  4,  1864      Chicago 


Rosehill   Cm. 


Simons,  H.  Apr.  20,  1863  Murfreesboro, 

Tenn.  Murfreesboro 

Smith,  Joseph         Oct.  17,  1861   Killed 
Trittean,  John        Dec.  31,  1862  Stone  River,  kid. 
Vincent,  Wm.          Feb.  25,  1862    Elizabethtown,  Ky. 
Winterstein,  Milton 


Anderson,  Thos. 

Black,  John 
Bullen,  Edg.  M. 

Clark,  Lyman 
Cobb,  Joseph 
Eckart,  George 
Fullerton,  J.  C. 
Grady,  Robert 

Griffen,  Dan'l  W. 
Higgins,  Charles 
James,  John  T. 
Kent,  Charles 
Lad  wick,  Chas. 
McDonald,  Pat'k 
Metz,  Louis 


COMPANY  K. 

In  Andersonville 

prison 
Feb.  1882 
Feb.  3,  1863     Murfreesboro,  of 

wounds 
Apr.  14,  1863   Murfreesboro 


Sept.  3,  1912 
Jan.  2,  1863 
Feb.  18,  1896 

Dec.  30,  1862 
Oct.  16,  1861 
Sept.  3,  1861 
Feb.  6,  1910 

Apr.  4,  1906 


Oak  Park,  111. 
Stone  River,  kid. 
Milwaukee,    Sol 
diers'  Home 
Stone  River,  kid. 
Killed 
Quincy,  111. 
Chicago 
Eden 
Chicago 
East  Wheeling,  111. 


Quincy,  111. 


J.  Henry  Haynie,  Commander  Charles  Ward  Post,  G.  A.  R. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 


349 


COMPANY  K — Continued. 


NAME. 


DATE  OF  WHERE  AND         PLACE  OF 

DEATH.  HOW.  BURIAL. 


Miller,  M.  L.  Gracel'd  Cm. 

Morgan,  Charles     Feb.  23,  1899   Forest  Home 

Morisette,  Alex. 

Otten,  R.  Dec.  7,  1889  Waldheim 

Pemberton,  T.        Sept.  20,  1863  Killed  at  Chicka- 

mauga 

Shephard,  Frank  Elgin,  111.  Elgin,  111. 

Simpson,  A.  Aug.  10,  1862  Pulaski,  Tenn., 

killed 

Stark,  Charles 

Stephens,  John        Apr.  7,  1910     Chicago 
Tincholen,  S.  II.  In  Anderson ville 

prison 
Uchtman,  G.  G.      Oct.  17,  1899  Rosehill  Cm. 

"TAPS." 

'  At  the  Soldiers'  Homes,  where  the  Veterans  of  the  Civil 
War  are  laid  to  rest,  at  burials  of  privates  and  officers  at  army 
posts,  wherever  the  last  military  honors  are  paid,  the  sweet 
notes  of  this  call  gives  voice  to  the  last  farwell." 


Put  out  the  lights,        Go  to     sleep.      Go  to  sleep.     Go  to  sleep,   Go   to 


sleep.   Put  out  the  lights,      Go  to  sleep, 


Go  to  sleep. 


SOME  OFFICIAL   REPORTS 
of  COMMANDING   OFFICERS 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  353 


CAPTURE  OF  BOWLING  GREEN,  KENTUCKY. 
REPORT  OF  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  O.  M.  MITCHEL. 

Headquarters  Third  Division,  Department  of  The  Ohio. 
Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Feb.  15,  1862. 

GENERAL: — I  have  the  honor  to  announce  that  the  advance 
guard,  consisting  of  Colonel  Turchin's  Brigade,  under  cover  of 
artillery  from  each  of  the  batteries  commanded  by  Captain 
Loomis,  effected  a  passage  of  the  river  last  night  by  means  of  a 
large  flatboat,  which  was  found  by  our  scouts  during  the  after 
noon  at  a  large  flouring  mill  about  four  miles  below  the  town  of 
Bowling  Green.  The  advance  guard,  accompanied  by  a  detach 
ment  of  Colonel  Kennett's  cavalry,  supported  by  three  regiments 
of  a  reserve  from  the  main  body,  marched  upon  the  town,  and 
entered  without  finding  any  opposition  at  five  o'clock  this  morn 
ing.  Our  cavalry  pickets  are  now  thrown  forward  five  or  six 
miles  along  the  railroad  leading  to  Nashville,  the  railroad  leading 
to  Russellville,  and  the  turnpike  leading  to  Nashville.  Every 
precaution  has  been  taken  to  prevent  the  surprise  of  our  advance 
guard.  The  entire  division  is  encamped  on  this  side  of  the  river 
near  the  railroad,  and  convenient  to  wood  and  water.  Our 
troops,  though  they  had  been  on  the  march  for  two  days  and 
without  sleep  for  the  greater  part  of  three  successive  nights,  are 
in  the  highest  spirits.  I  know  not  how  to  express  my  grateful 
acknowledgments  to  all  the  officers  and  soldiers  comprising  the 
Third  Division.  Their  promptitude,  energy  and  indomitable 
courage  will  win,  I  trust,  the  confidence  and  approval  of  the 
general  commanding  the  department  and  of  the  entire  country. 

Our  victory  is  almost  a  bloodless  one,  but  not  the  less  im 
portant.  I  find  on  examination  that  Bowling  Green  is  suscep 
tible  of  the  most  perfect  defense.  One  of  the  works  on  the 
north  side  of  the  river  is  admirably  constructed  and  beautifully 
finished.  I  regret  the  loss  of  many  valuable  buildings  in  the 
town  by  fire.  Our  effort  to  drive  the  enemy  from  the  town  by 
artillery  did  not  prevent  them  from  firing  the  depot  and  several 
other  public  buildings.  We  found  a  large  supply  of  corn 


354  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

partially  consumed  by  fire.  One  locomotive  on  the  track  was 
injured  badly  by  burning  the  wood  in  the  tender.  Five  or  six 
locomotives  in  the  engine  house  have  been  partially  destroyed 
by  the  fire.  Three  of  them,  it  is  thought,  may  be  repaired. 
We  find  on  the  track  at  the  depot  several  platform  cars,  some 
house  cars,  several  hand  cars,  and  a  piece  of  artillery  mounted 
upon  a  platform  car  ready  for  removal,  all  of  which  the  enemy 
was  compelled  to  abandon,  by  our  unexpected  attack.  A  large 
supply  of  flour  and  beef  had  been  distributed  among  the  citizens; 
should  our  troops  require  it,  I  shall  feel  it  to  be  my  duty  to  use 
these  stores  as  the  property  of  the  United  States.  Other  stores, 
consisting  of  boxes  of  boots  and  shoes,  sugar,  coffee,  kegs  of  nails, 
barrels  of  whiskey,  tents,  and  saddles  have  fallen  into  our  hands, 
the  enemy  being  unable  to  remove  them  from  General  Hindman's 
former  headquarters  to  the  South  side  of  the  river.  Indeed,  our 
approach  was  so  rapid  and  so  unexpected  that  the  first  intelli 
gence  the  enemy  had  of  our  presence  was  communicated  by  the 
explosion  of  a  shell  near  the  depot. 

I  am  informed  by  the  inhabitants  that  our  firing  created  the 
greatest  consternation,  and  that  the  troops  of  the  enemy  precip 
itately  abandoned  the  town,  which  but  for  this  they  would  have 
done  probably  at  an  early  day,  feeling  that  other  points  had  be 
come  of  greater  importance,  and  as  their  force  was  limited  in 
number  they  were  compelled  to  concentrate  them  where  most 
needed. 

The  railroad  from  this  point  to  the  tunnel  is  in  perfect  con 
dition.  The  line  of  telegraph  is  also  complete.  About  four 
miles  and  a  half  of  track  have  been  destroyed  by  burning  the 
ties  and  bending  the  rails.  If  other  rails  are  sent  forward  with 
chairs  and  spikes  promptly,  I  think  a  single  regiment  could  open 
the  road  in  a  week.  I  shall  establish  today  a  ferry  across  the 
river  near  the  turnpike  bridge.  Captain  Yates,  commanding 
Mechanics  and  Engineers,  reports  that  the  bridge  can  be  in 
order  so  as  to  pass  teams  in  four  or  five  days. 

I  send  this  morning  a  very  large  train  of  wagons  to  Green 
River  for  supplies  and  forage.  The  quartermaster  has  been 
ordered  to  the  country  to  purchase  beef,  cattle,  mutton,  and 
pork.  If  orders  were  given  to  send  by  rail  our  supplies  and  forage 
as  far  as  the  railway  is  in  condition  it  would -greatly  aid  us  in 
supplying  the  division.  It  is  important  that  some  arrangement 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  355 

be  made  by  means  of  which  our  mails  may  be  received  regularly 
and  promptly. 

I  respectfully  request  your  orders  as  to  the  disposition  of 
those  troops  which  have  been  sent  forward  to  support  my  di 
vision.  I  think  it  important  that  Glasgow  should  be  occupied 
for  the  present  by  one  brigade.  With  that  force  thus  posted 
I  feel  that  our  present  position  can  be  held  against  any  force 
which  the  enemy  may  be  able  to  send  against  us.  The  com 
manding  general  will  please  announce  to  the  country  the  fall  of 
Bowling  Green  and  its  present  occupation  by  United  States 
troops.  Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

O.  M.  MITCHEL, 

Brigadier  General. 


CAPTURE  AND  OCCUPATION  OF  HUNTSVILLE. 

(Extract  from  report  of  Brigadier  General  Ormsby  M.  Mitchel.) 

Headquarters  Third  Division. 

Huntsville,  Ala.,  April  11,  1862. 

SIR: — After  a  forced  march  of  incredible  difficulty,  leaving 
Fayetteville  yesterday  at  twelve  M.,  my  advance  guard,  consist 
ing  of  Turchin's  Brigade,  Kennett's  Cavalry,  and  Simonson's 
Battery,  entered  Huntsville  this  morning  at  six  o'clock.  The 
city  was  taken  completely  by  surprise,  no  one  having  considered 
the  march  practicable  in  that  time.  We  have  captured  about 
two  hundred  prisoners,  fifteen  locomotives,  a  large  amount  of 
passenger,  box,  and  platform  cars,  the  telegraph  apparatus  and 
offices,  and  two  Southern  mails.  We  have  at  length  succeeded 
in  cutting  the  great  artery  of  railway  intercommunication  be 
tween  the  Southern  States. 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

O.  M.  MITCHEL, 
Brigadier  General  Commanding. 

CAPT.  J.  B.  FRY, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General. 


356  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

Headquarters  Third  Division. 

Camp  Taylor,  Hunts ville,  April  16,  1862. 
GENERAL  ORDER  No.  93. 

SOLDIERS! — Your  march  upon  Bowling  Green  won  the  thanks 
and  confidence  of  our  Commanding  General.  With  Engines  and 
Cars  captured  from  the  enemy,  our  Advanced  Guard  precipitated 
itself  upon  Nashville.  It  was  now  made  your  duty  to  seize  and 
destroy  the  Memphis  and  Charleston  Railway,  the  great  Military 
Road  of  the  enemy.  With  a  supply  train  only  sufficient  to  feed 
you  at  a  distance  of  two  days  march  your  from  Depot,  you  under 
took  the  Herculean  task  of  rebuilding  twelve  hundred  feet  of 
heavy  bridging,  which  by  your  untiring  energy  was  accomplished 
in  ten  days. 

Thus,  by  a  Railway  of  your  own  construction,  your  Depot 
of  Supplies  was  removed  from  Nashville  to  Shelbyville,  sixty- 
three  miles,  in  the  direction  of  the  object  of  your  attack.  The 
blow  now  became  practicable.  Marching  with  a  celerity  such 
as  to  outstrip  any  messenger  who  might  have  attempted  to  an 
nounce  your  coming,  you  fell  upon  Huntsville,  taking  your 
enemy  completely  by  surprise,  and  capturing  not  only  his  great 
Military  Road,  but  all  his  Machine  Shops,  Engines  and  Rolling 
Stock. 

Thus  providing  yourselves  with  ample  transportation,  you 
have  struck  blow  after  blow  with  a  rapidity  unparalleled. — 
Stevenson  fell,  sixty  miles  to  the  East  of  Huntsville.  Decatur 
and  Tuscumbia  have  been  in  like  manner  seized  and  are  now 
occupied.  In  three  days  you  have  extended  your  front  of 
operations  more  than  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles;  and  your 
Morning  Gun  at  Tuscumbia  may  now  be  heard  by  your  comrades 
on  the  battlefield  recently  made  glorious  by  their  Victory  before 
Corinth. 

A  communication  of  these  facts  to  Headquarters  has  not 
only  won  the  thanks  of  our  Commanding  General  but  those  of 
the  Department  of  War,  which  I  announce  to  you  with  proud 
satisfaction. 

Accept  the  thanks  of  your  Commander,  and  let  your  future 
deeds  demonstrate  that  you  can  surpass  yourselves. 
By  order  of 

O.  M.  MITCHEL, 
Brigadier  General  Commanding. 
W.  P.  PRENTICE,  A.  A.  G. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  357 

EXPEDITION  TO  CHATTANOOGA. 

(Extract  from  report  of  Commanding  General.) 

Shelbyville,  Tennessee,  June  12,  1862. 

Our  expedition  into  East  Tennessee  has  proved  successful. 
We  are  returning  with  eighty  prisoners,  including  a  number  of 
prominent  officers;  also  captured  a  drove  of  cattle,  and  a  large 
quantity  of  horses  intended  for  the  Rebel  army.  The  defeat  of 
General  Adams'  forces  in  Sweeden's  Cove  was  much  more  com 
plete  than  first  reported.  He  escaped  without  sword,  hat,  or 
horse.  We  silenced  the  enemy's  batteries  at  Chattanooga  on 
the  evening  of  the  seventh,  after  a  fierce  cannonading  of  three 
hours.  On  the  eighth,  at  nine  o'clock  a.  m.,  we  reopened, 
firing  for  six  hours  upon  the  town  and  rifle-pits,  driving  the  enemy 
out  and  forcing  him  to  abandon  his  works  and  evacuate  the  city. 
They  burned  several  railroad  bridges  to  prevent  pursuit.  The 
Union  people  in  East  Tennessee  are  wild  with  joy.  They  meet 
along  the  roads  by  hundreds.  I  shall  send  you  a  number  of 
their  principal  persecutors  from  Sequatchie  Valley. 
Yours  very  truly, 

JAMES  S.  NEGLEY, 

Brigadier  General. 
GOVERNOR  ANDREW  JOHNSON. 


BATTLE  OF  STONE  RIVER. 

(Extracts  from  the  official  report  of  the  Division  Commander.) 
Headquarters  Eighth  Division,  Department  of  the  Cumberland. 

Camp  near  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  Januarys,  1863. 
SIR: — I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the 
operations  of  the  troops  of  my  command  in  the  engagements  with 
the  enemy  on  Stone  River : 

In  the  rear  and  on  the  right  was  a  dense  cedar 
woods  with  a  broken,  rocky  surface.  From  our  position  several 
roads  were  cut  through  the  trees  in  our  rear,  by  which  to  bring 
up  the  artillery  and  ammunition  trains.  In  front  a  heavy  growth 
of  oak  timber  extended  toward  the  river,  which  was  about  a  mile 
distant.  A  narrow  thicket  crossed  our  left  diagonally,  and 
skirted  the  base  of  a  cultivated  slope,  which  expanded  to  the 


358  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

width  of  a  mile  as  it  approached  the  Nashville  pike.  This  slope 
afforded  the  enemy  his  most  commanding  position  (in  the  center), 
on  the  crest  of  which  his  rifle-pits  extended,  with  intervals,  from 
the  oak  timber  immediately  in  my  front  to  the  Nashville  pike, 
with  a  battery  of  four  Napoleon  and  two  iron  guns  placed  in 
position  near  the  woods,  and  about  eight  hundred  yards  from  my 
position.  Behind  this  timber,  on  the  river  bank,  the  enemy 
massed  his  columns  for  the  movements  of  the  next  day.  Their 
skirmishers  were  driven  from  our  immediate  front  after  a  sharp 
contest,  in  which  the  Nineteenth  Illinois  and  Seventy-eighth 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers  displayed  admirable  efficiency.  The 
position  of  my  command  was  held  under  a  heavy  fire  until  dark 
ness  terminated  the  skirmishing  in  our  front,  by  which  time  we 

had  inflicted  considerable  loss  upon  the  enemy 

Early  the  next  morning,  and  before  the  heavy  fog  had  drifted 

away  from  our  front,  the  enemy  in  strong  force  attacked  and  sur 
prised  General  McCook's  right,  commencing  a  general  action, 
which  increased  in  intensity  toward  his  left.  Sheridan's  Division 
stood  its  ground  manfully,  supported  by  the  Eighth  Division, 
repulsing  and  driving  the  enemy  at  every  advance.  . 
For  four  hours  the  Eighth  Division,  with  a  portion  of  Sheridan's 
and  Palmer's  Division,  maintained  its  position  amid  a  murderous 
storm  of  lead  and  iron,  strewing  the  ground  with  heroic  dead. 
The  enemy,  maddened  to  desperation  by  the  determined  resist 
ance,  still  pressed  forward  fresh  troops,  concentrating  and  forming 
them  in  a  concentric  line  on  either  flank.  By  eleven  o'clock 
Sheridan's  men,  with  their  ammunition  exhausted,  were  falling 
back.  General  Rousseau's  reserve  and  General  Palmer's  Di 
vision  had  retired  in  rear  of  the  cedars  to  form  a  new  line.  The 
artillery  ammunition  was  expended;  that  of  the  infantry  reduced 
to  a  few  rounds;  the  artillery  horses  were  nearly  all  killed  or 
wounded;  my  ammunition  train  had  been  sent  back  to  avoid 
capture;  a  heavy  column  of  the  enemy  was  marching  directly 
to  our  rear  through  the  cedars;  communication  with  General 
Rosecrans  was  entirely  cut  off,  and  it  was  manifestly  impossible 
to  hold  the  position  without  eventually  making  a  hopeless, 
fruitless  sacrifice  of  my  whole  Division.  To  retire  was  but  to 
cut  our  way  through  the  ranks  of  the  enemy.  The  order  was 
given  and  manfully  executed,  driving  back  the  foe  and  checking 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  359 

its    approaching    column    in    our   rear Colonels 

Stanley  and  Miller  now  promptly  reformed  their  brigades  with 
the  remaining  portions  of  the  batteries,  and  took  possession  on 
the  new  line,  as  designated  by  Major  General  Thomas.  Shortly 
afterward  the  Twenty-ninth  Brigade*  was  ordered  to  the  left  to 
repel  an  attack  from  the  enemy's  cavalry  on  the  trains. 

The  troops  remained  in  line  all  night  and  the  next  day  in 
order  of  battle  until  noon,  when  the  Division  was  ordered  to  the 
right  of  General  McCook's  line,  in  expectation  of  an  attack  upon 
his  front.  January  2d,  at  one  o'clock  p.  m.  my  command  was 
ordered  to  the  support  of  General  Crittenden  on  the  left,  and  took 
position  in  the  rear  of  the  batteries  on  the  West  bank  of  Stone 
River.  About  three  o'clock  p.  m.  a  strong  force  of  the  enemy, 
with  artillery,  advanced  rapidly  upon  General  Van  Cleve's 
Division,  which,  after  sustaining  a  severe  fire  for  twenty  or  thirty 
minutes,  fell  back  in  considerable  disorder,  the  foe  pressing 
vigorously  forward  to  the  river  bank.  At  this  important  mo 
ment  the  Eighth  Division  was  ordered  to  advance,  which  it  did 
promptly,  the  men  crossing  the  river  and  charging  up  the  steep 
bank  with  unflinching  bravery.  The  Nineteenth  Illinois, 
Twenty-first,  Eighteenth,  Sixty-ninth,  and  Seventy-fourth 
Ohio,  Eleventh  Michigan,  Thirty-seventh  Indiana,  and  Seventy- 
eighth  Pennsylvania  Volunteers  displayed  their  usual  prompt 
ness  and  gallantry.  Four  pieces  of  artillery  and  a  stand  of  colors 
were  captured  at  the  point  of  the  bayonets,  and  a  large  number  of 
prisoners,  the  enemy  retreating  in  disorder 

I  refer  to  my  command  with  feelings  of  great  pride  for  the 
living,  and  personal  sorrow  for  the  dead.  Without  a  murmur 
they  made  forced  marches  over  almost  impassable  roads,  through 
drenching  winter  rains,  without  a  change  of  clothing  or  blankets, 
deprived  of  sleep  or  repose,  constantly  on  duty  for  eleven  days, 
living  three  days  on  a  pint  of  flour  and  parched  corn.  Ever 
vigilant,  always  ready,  sacrificing  their  lives  with  a  contempt  of 
peril,  displaying  the  coolness,  determination,  and  high  discipline 
of  veterans,  they  are  entitled  to  our  Country's  gratitude.  Penn 
sylvania,  Illinois,  Indiana,  Kentucky,  Ohio,  Michigan,  and  Ten 
nessee  may  proudly  inscribe  upon  their  scrolls  of  fame  the  names 

*  The  Nineteenth  Illinois  was  in  the  Twenty-ninth  Brigade,  Eighth 
Pivisiga, 


360  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

of  the  Seventy-eighth  Pennsylvania,  Nineteenth  Illinois,  Thirty- 
seventh  Indiana,  Nell's  section  of  Kentucky  Battery,  Eighteenth, 
Twenty-first,  Sixty-ninth,  and  Seventy-fourth  Ohio,  Eleventh 
Michigan,  and  Spear's  East  Tennessee  Brigade.  . 


I  have  the  honor  to  remain, 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JAMES  S.  NEGLEY, 

Brigadier  General. 
MAJOR  GEORGE  E.  FLYNT, 

Chief  of  Staff. 

WHAT  THE  COMMANDING  GENERAL  SAID. 

In  his  official  report  to  the  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army, 
Major  General  W.  S.  Rosecrans  wrote:  "If  there  are  many 
more  bloodier  battles  on  record,  considering  the  newness  and 
inexperience  of  the  troops,  both  officers  and  men,  or  if  there  has 
been  more  true  fighting  qualities  displayed  by  any  people,  I 
should  be  pleased  to  know  it." 

COLONEL  STANLEY'S  REPORT. 

(Extracts  from  the  official  report  of  the  Brigade  Commander.) 
Headquarters  Twenty-Ninth  Brigade,  Eighth  Division. 

Battlefield  near  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  Jan.  4,  1863. 

SIR  : — Before  the  smoke  of  battle  is  over,  and  while  the  dead 
lie  uninterred,  I  desire  to  make  the  following  important  report: 

On  the  thirtieth  of  December,  1862,  the  Eighth  Division 
occupied  the  extreme  right  of  the  advance  of  the  Army  at  this 
point,  my  brigade  occupying  the  right.  The  enemy  were  in 
our  immediate  front  and  extending  to  our  right.  It  was  expected 
that  General  McCook  would  occupy  our  Right  and  first  engage 
the  enemy  there.  I  directed  Colonel  Scott,  with  his  regiment 
(Nineteenth  Illinois),  as  skirmishers,  to  protect  our  right  flank, 
but  not  to  bring  on  an  engagement,  as  you  had  ordered  not  to  do 
so  at  that  time.  It,  however,  became  necessary  to  occupy  some 
buildings  in  a  field,  from  which  we  were  annoyed  by  the  enemy, 
and  Colonel  Scott  drove  them  from  the  place  and  afterward  held 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  361 

it.  We  were  then  annoyed  from  a  barn  and  brick-kiln  in  our 
advance  and  right,  and  Colonel  Scott  charged  and  drove  the 
enemy  away.  Quite  a  number  of  them  were  killed  in  these 
skirmishes  and  some  two  or  three  of  our  men  were  wounded. 

During  the  day  General  McCook  came  up  on  our  right  and 
sharply  engaged  the  enemy.  At  night  we  lay  on  our  arms,  and 
early  on  the  morning  of  December  31,  our  skirmishers  advanced 
and  drove  the  enemy's  skirmishers  partly  through  the  woods  in 
our  front,  and  General  McCook  engaged  them  on  our  right,  but 
eventually  fell  back,  and  then  a  very  heavy  force  was  precipi 
tated  on  our  front  and  right,  and  on  the  Seventh  Brigade,  to  my 
left.  This  infantry  force  was  supported  by  a  battery  on  our 
front  and  by  another  in  intrenchments  on  our  left;  the  firing  was 
very  severe;  but  the  Brigade  (as  also  did  the  Seventh  Brigade 
on  my  left),  not  only  sustained  the  attack  without  falling  back, 
but  poured  such  a  well  directed  fire  upon  the  foe  that  they  fal 
tered,  and  their  onward  rush  was  stayed.  However,  the  Union 
troops,  both  on  our  right  and  left,  had  fallen  back  so  far  as  to 
bring  the  Confederates  on  three  sides  of  us  and  they  were  fast 
closing  on  our  rear.  At  this  time  General  Negley  directed  his 
Division  to  cut  its  way  through  and  to  join  the  troops  further  at 
the  rear;  and  this  we  did  in  good  order,  halting  at  two  points  and 
checking  the  enemy  by  well  directed  volleys  which  by  this  time 
they  had  learned  to  fear. 

After  we  had  formed  in  line  behind  the  crest  of  a  low  hill, 
an  officer  from  another  Division  rode  to  the  front  of  the  Eight 
eenth  Ohio  and  ordered  them  forward,  himself  leading  the  way, 
and  made  the  charge  upon  the  enemy  in  the  woods;  but  the  foe 
was  so  strong  there  that  the  regiment  was  compelled  to  fall  back 
with  heavy  loss.  As  soon,  however,  as  I  saw  the  move,  I  called 
upon  the  Eleventh  Michigan  to  follow  me  to  their  support, 
which  they  did  most  gallantly;  but  I  soon  called  them  off,  as  they 
had  no  support  and  the  fire  was  murderous.  I  exceedingly  re 
gretted  this  order  from  an  officer  not  having  command  over  me, 
and  without  consulting  yourself  or  me.  Many  of  my  men  were 
left  on  the  field. 

On  January  2,  the  enemy  attacked  the  Left  flank  of  our 
Army  in  strong  force  of  infantry  and  artillery,  and  soon  drove  our 
scattered  forces  to  the  rear.  General  Rosecrans  and  General 


362  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

Negley  were  both  on  the  ground  occupied  by  the  Eighth  Division, 
and  ordered  my  Brigade  forward  across  Stone  River  to  stay 
the  advancing  forces.  This  was  done  with  a  will,  the  Nineteenth 
Illinois  leading,  accompanied  by  the  Seventh  Brigade.  They  met 
the  enemy  with  cheers,  and  with  such  determination  that  very 
soon  the  enemy  gave  way,  followed  closely  by  us,  and  were 
driven  from  every  position  up  the  hill  through  the  timber  and 
through  an  open  field  to  woods  beyond. 

In  this  gallant  advance  my  brigade  charged  a  battery  and 
took  four  brass  pieces.  We  occupied  the  field,  and  soon  re- 
enforcements  came  to  our  relief,  but  it  was  nearly  dark,  and  I 
did  not  deem  it  prudent  to  advance  further  without  orders,  as 
there  was  a  battery  in  the  woods  beyond,  which  took  effect  on 
us  at  short  range.  I  here  rallied  my  men  and  formed  a  little  to 
the  rear  of  the  crest  of  the  hill.  It  was  now  about  dark,  and, 
following  your  order,  I  withdrew  my  command  to  our  former 
position. 

In  this  engagement,  as  also  the  one  of  December  31,  the 
Seventh  Brigade  acted  in  concert  with  my  own,  and  sometimes 
the  two,  to  some  extent,  were  intermingled,  but  fought  together 
without  confusion,  and  thus  troops  from  Pennsylvania,  Ohio, 
Indiana,  Illinois  and  Michigan  stood  side  by  side,  each  vying  with 
the  other  in  the  conflict.  .  .  .  They  acted  with  that 
bravery  expected  of  well-disciplined  troops  fighting  in  a  just 
cause.  They  stood  manfully  and  bravely  the  appalling  fire  of  a 
much  larger  force,  and  in  the  last  engagement  met  and  repulsed 
a  superior  force,  elated  with  a  supposed  victory.  The  officers 
and  men,  almost  without  exception,  behaved  with  the  most 
determined  bravery. 

Colonel  Stoughton,  of  the  Eleventh  Michigan,  was  in  the 
thickest  of  the  fight,  encouraging  his  men,  and  throughout  both 
engagements  acted  with  the  most  distinguished  gallantry.  Good 
judgment  was  also  displayed  by  hirn  in  rallying  his  own  men  and 
others  of  my  brigade  at  the  crest  of  the  hill  in  the  last  engagement, 
during  my  temporary  absence  on  another  part  of  the  field. 
Colonel  Scott  of  the  Nineteenth  Illinois,  was  also  where  danger 
was  most  imminent,  and  by  his  coolness  and  bravery  aided  his 
regiment  in  its  gallant  defense  on  the  first  day,  and  its  heroic 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  363 

charge  on  the  second.  He  was  seriously  wounded  in  the  second 
engagement,  and  carried  off  the  field  cheering  and  encouraging 
his  men. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  R.  STANLEY, 
Colonel  Commanding. 
CAPT.  JAMES  A.  LOWRIE, 

Asst.  Adjt.  Gen.  and  Chief  of  Staff,  Eighth  Division. 

(Official  report  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Alexander  W.  Raffen.) 

Headquarters  Nineteenth  Regiment  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry. 
Camp  near  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  January  10,  1863. 

SIR: — I  would  respectfully  submit  to  you  my  report  of  the 
part  taken  by  the  Nineteenth  Regiment  Illinois  Infantry  in  the 
late  engagements  before  Murfreesboro.  On  Tuesday  morning, 
December  30,  1862,  the  regiment,  under  the  command  of  its 
colonel,  Joseph  R.  Scott,  was,  by  your  orders,  deployed  as  skir 
mishers,  to  take  possession  of  and  hold  certain  buildings  on  the 
Nolens ville  pike.  On  the  north  side  of  said  pike,  on  our  front 
and  right,  opposite  the  above  buildings,  was  a  brick  yard,  at 
which  we  found  the  enemy  in  strong  nunbers.  We  succeeded 
after  a  short  struggle,  in  driving  in  their  line  of  skirmishers 
which  had  been  thrown  out,  taking  possession  of  the  designated 
places.  We  held  the  position  thus  gained  until  relieved,  about 
twelve  M.,  by  the  Forty-second  Illinois  on  our  right  and  the 
Eighteenth  Ohio  on  our  left.  We  then  retired,  and  were  held 
as  a  reserve,  remaining  in  that  position  until  next  morning,  the 
thirty-first  of  December,  1862. 

At  about  nine  o'clock  a.  m.  of  that  date,  we  became  engaged 
with  a  large  force  of  the  enemy.  By  your  orders  we  changed 
our  position,  for  the  purpose  of  protecting  and  preventing,  if 
possible,  our  Right  wing  from  being  turned,  which  after  some  two 
hours'  hard  fighting,  the  enemy  succeeded  in  doing.  We  retired, 
falling  back  in  line  of  battle  to  a  cedar  forest,  where  we  halted, 
but  were  ordered  to  fall  back  still  further.  W^e  again  made  a 
stand  some  fifty  yards  from  the  edge  of  the  forest,  engaging  the 
enemy  alone.  We  held  our  position  perhaps  half  an  hour,  but 
our  colonel,  seeing  that  we  were  in  danger  of  being  outflanked, 
ordered  a  retreat,  which  was  done  in  good  order,  falling  back  to 


364  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

the  railroad.     By  your  orders  we  changed  our  position  several 
times  during  the  day,  but  we  were  not  engaged  in  action. 

On  Thursday,  January  1,  1863,  we  changed  our  position 
several  times,  but  did  not  become  engaged  with  the  enemy. 

On  the  second,  about  3 :30  o'clock  p.  m.,  the  enemy  suddenly 
attacked  the  Left  of  our  army  with  great  fury,  and  after  some 
severe  fighting  the  Left  gave  way.  We  were  then  ordered  for 
ward  to  their  support.  Charging  upon  the  enemy,  we  drove 
them  back.  Crossing  Stone  River,  we  forced  them  beyond 
their  batteries,  capturing  four  of  their  guns  and  remaining 
masters  of  the  field. 

Early  in  this  engagement  our  colonel,  while  gallantly  leading 
his  men,  fell,  severely,  but  not  dangerously,  wounded;  the  com 
mand  then  devolved  on  me;  and  I  here  take  great  pleasure  in 
testifying  to  the  bravery  and  good  conduct  of  both  officers  and 
men  in  my  command.  But  where  all  did  their  duty  so  nobly  it 
would  be  unjust  to  discriminate. 

Inclosed   please  find   list   of   casualties  in  my   command. 

Trusting  the  above  may  prove  satisfactory,  I  am, 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

ALEX.  W.  RAFFEN, 

Lieutenant  Colonel, 

Commanding  Nineteenth  Illinois  Infantry. 
COL.  T.  R.  STANLEY, 

Commanding  Twenty-ninth  Brigade. 


DAVIS'  CROSSROADS  (GEORGIA)  ENGAGEMENT. 

(Report  of  the  Brigade  Commander,  Colonel  T.  R.  Stanley.) 

Headquarters  Second  Brigade,  Second  Division, 

Fourteenth  Army  Corps. 

In  the  Field,  September  12,  1863. 

MAJOR: — In  compliance  with  your  orders  of  this  date,  I 
have  the  honor  to  report  the  following  list  of  casualties  in  my 
command  in  the  engagement  of  yesterday.  In  submitting  this 
report  I  deem  it  proper  to  add  an  account  of  the  operations  of 
my  command  in  the  engagement  above  alluded  to.  In  the 
skirmishing  during  the  early  part  of  the  day  nearly  every  com 
pany  of  my  command  was  more  or  less  engaged  and  acquitted 
themselves  with  credit  and  honor. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  365 

On  taking  my  position  on  the  ridge  at  Davis',  as  ordered  by 
Major  General  Negley,  I  placed  the  Nineteenth  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry  and  Eleventh  Michigan  Volunteer  Infantry  in  line  on 
the  slope  in  front  of  the  Fourth  Indiana  Battery,  and  in  rear  of 
a  fence,  directing  them  to  build  breastworks  of  rails  and  stones 
to  protect  themselves  from  musketry,  which  they  did  promptly 
and  effectually.  The  Eighteenth  Ohio  was  placed  in  double 
column  as  a  reserve.  Captain  Schultz,  commanding  Battery  M, 
First  Ohio  Volunteer  Artillery,  was  ordered  to  take  position  on 
the  side  of  the  hill  in  my  rear.  He  then  opened  on  the  enemy, 
firing  over  us  with  one  section,  and  worked  with  good  effect 
until  ordered  to  retire. 

I  sent  four  companies  of  the  Nineteenth  Illinois  forward, 
one  to  a  barn,  two  to  the  bank  of  the  creek  on  the  right,  and  one 
behind  the  stone  wall  on  the  left  and  near  the  creek.  This  last, 
with  one  company  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Illinois,  which  was 
temporarily  there,  fired  a  volley  on  a  mounted  group  of  the 
enemy  (as  they  were  fiercely  and  rapidly  pursuing  two  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  Illinois,  who  had  fallen  to  the  rear)  which  unseated 
all  of  the  foe  in  sight,  killing  thirteen,  as  reported,  and  wounding 
a  large  number.  It  is  believed  the  pursuing  party  was  a  general 
officer  and  his  staff  at  the  head  of  a  column  of  mounted  men. 

The  enemy  placed  a  battery  in  position,  that  was  well  han 
dled  and  did  terrible  execution,  especially  upon  the  Eighteenth 
Ohio,  which  had  been  placed  on  the  right  flank  to  guard  against 
the  foe,  who  appeared  there  in  strong  force.  Finding  that  it 
would  be  necessary  for  me  to  remain  on  or  near  the  left  in  order 
to  observe  the  enemy  in  that  quarter,  I  gave  Colonel  Stoughton, 
who  was  on  the  right,  instructions  to  act  at  discretion  with  his 
regiment  and  the  section  of  artillery  on  his  right,  all  of  which  he 
did  (sending  out  one  of  his  companies  as  skirmishers)  with  proper 
judgment. 

I  have  already  said  the  enemy  appeared  in  heavy  force  on 
my  right;  this  force  consisted  of  a  column  of  infantry  and 
several  pieces  of  artillery.  Seeing  the  emergency,  Captain 
Waggener,  my  assistant  adjutant  general  (I  being  on  the 
left),  ordered  the  Eighteenth  Ohio  into  position  there 
and  immediately  reported  the  fact  to  me,  which  I  approved. 
The  artillery  soon  opened,  and  I  was  then  exposed  to  a 
galling  cross-fire.  The  Eighteenth,  however,  with  the  company 


366  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

of  the  Eleventh  Michigan  skirmishing  and  the  aid  of  the 
section  of  artillery,  directed  by  Colonel  Stoughton,  held  the  foe 
at  bay  in  that  quarter.  In  the  meantime  the  enemy  in  front, 
taught  a  severe  lesson  by  the  Nineteenth's  company  behind  the 
stone  wall,  kept  at  a  respectable  distance.  His  battery,  however, 
did  fearful  execution,  throwing  shell  and  grape  with  remarkable 
precision. 

While  this  was  being  done,  I  was  momentarily  on  the  right; 
the  four  pieces  on  the  left  were  withdrawn  without  my  order,  thus 
leaving  me  at  that  point  at  the  mercy  of  the  well  directed  fire  of 
the  enemy's  artillery.  Soon  after,  however,  the  train  having 
arrived,  Major  General  Negley  ordered  me  to  retire;  this  I  did 
in  good  order,  bringing  with  me  the  section  on  my  right,  which 
remained  until  ordered  by  me  to  leave. 

A  portion  of  the  Eighteenth  Ohio  was  thrown  temporarily 
in  confusion,  and  I  retired  them  first,  bringing  up  the  Nineteenth 
Illinois  and  Eleventh  Michigan  in  rear  of  the  section  and  skir 
mishers  to  their  rear.  However,  I  soon  had  the  Eighteenth 
Ohio  also  in  line  and  retired  with  the  Brigade  in  line  of  battle, 
ready  at  any  time  to  face  about  to  the  enemy.  .  .  .  The 
foe  suffered  much  more  severely  than  we,  and  they  did  not  follow 
us  up  closely  as  we  fell  back. 

Very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  R.  STANLEY, 
Colonel  Commanding. 
MAJOR  JAMES  A.  LOWRIE, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General,  Second  Division. 

OFFICIAL  REPORTS  OF  THE  COMMANDERS  OF  OUR 
BRIGADE  AT  CHICKAMAUGA. 

Headquarters  Second  Brigade,  Second  Division, 
Fourteenth  Army  Corps,  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 

Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  September  28,  1863. 
MAJOR: — In  compliance  with  your  order, requiring  a  report 
of  the  operations  of  my  brigade  from  the  time  of  leaving  Cave 
Springs,  Ala.,  up  to  our  arrival  at  this  point,  I  have  the  honor  to 
submit  the  following. 

My  command  consisting  of  the  Eighteenth  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry,  Nineteenth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  Eleventh 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  367 

Michigan  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  Battery  M,  First  Ohio  Volun 
teer  Artillery,  (the  Sixty-Ninth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry  having 
been  left  at  Cowan,  Tenn.),  left  Cave  Spring  and  crossed  the  Ten 
nessee  River  at  Caperton's  Ferry  on  the  evening  of  the  first  of 
September.  We  continued  the  march  from  day  to  day,  crossing 
Raccoon  Mountain,  and  encamped  on  Lookout  Mountain 
September  8.  That  same  day  the  Eleventh  Michigan  Infantry, 
under  Colonel  Stoughton,  was  thrown  forward  and  moved  down 
the  mountain,  clearing  out  the  heavy  timber  with  which  the  road 
had  been  blockaded,  and,  skirmishing  briskly,  drove  the  enemy 
for  more  than  a  mile  and  a  half,  and  occupied  Steven's  Gap. 
September  9  my  brigade  made  a  reconnaissance  to  the  front  and 
drove  the  enemy's  outposts  some  three  miles,  with  light  firing. 
The  next  day  we  moved  forward  to  Davis'  Crossroads,  and, 
after  some  manoeuvreing  in  that  vicinity,  the  engagement  took 
place  on  the  eleventh  of  September,  an  official  report  of  which 
you  have  already  received. 

Falling  back  to  Bailey's  Crossroads,  we  remained  there 
until  the  seventeenth  of  September,  when  we  moved  off  on  the 
Chattanooga  Road  and  encamped  at  Crawfish  Spring  on  the 
night  of  the  18th.  On  the  morning  of  the  nineteenth  I  moved 
under  orders  toward  the  left  and  took  position  on  an  elevated 
point  designated  by  Major  General  Negley,  with  the  Eleventh 
Michigan  thrown  considerably  forward.  In  the  afternoon  I 
advanced  my  three  regiments  in  line  of  battle,  and,  in  connection 
with  the  Third  Brigade,  deployed  on  my  right,  drove  the  enemy 
out  of  the  woods  in  our  front  and  regained  the  ground  which  had 
been  held  and  lost  during  the  day  by  the  troops  of  some  other 
command.  Later  in  the  day  we  advanced  still  further  and  drove 
the  enemy,  with  heavy  firing,  from  an  open  field  in  our  front. 
We  subsequently  withdrew  to  the  edge  of  the  woods,  constructing 
light  breastworks  of  rails  and  remained  during  the  night. 

At  an  early  hour  the  next  morning  (Sunday,  September  20) , 
I  received  orders  from  Major  General  Negley  to  withdraw  from 
my  position  and  move  off  up  the  road  toward  the  Left.  I  had 
moved  but  a  short  distance,  in  compliance  with  this  command, 
when  I  was  ordered  to  return  to  the  former  position,  which  I  did, 
driving  the  enemy,  who  had  in  the  meantime  advanced  and  oc 
cupied  it.  I  was  relieved  shortly  afterward  by  a  brigade  from 
General  Wood's  Division,  and  again  ordered  toward  the  left, 


368  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

where  the  battle  was  raging  loudly  and  heavily.  Having  moved 
my  command,  including  the  battery  which  had  remained  all 
night  in  position  on  the  hill  in  my  rear,  some  distance  on  and  to 
the  left,  on  a  line  with  the  Rossville  Road,  I  was  ordered  by  Major 
General  Negley  to  push  my  regiments  quickly  into  the  woods  on 
to  the  right,  to  support  the  forces  engaged  therein.  This  I  did, 
moving  rapidly  forward  and  leaving  my  battery  in  immediate 
charge  of  Major  General  Negley,  under  whose  orders  Captain 
Schultz,  commanding,  having  at  that  time  become  separated 
from  the  brigade,  acted  during  the  principal  part  of  the  day.  I 
pushed  my  regiments  quickly  through  the  woods  and  reported 
to  the  officer  in  command,  who  ordered  me  farther  to  the  left, 
to  report  to  whomsoever  I  found  in  command  there.  Upon 
reaching  a  certain  point  I  was  ordered  into  line  at  right  angles 
with  the  front,  but  finding  nothing  to  do  there,  I  pushed  forward 
again  until  I  found  Major  General  Thomas,  from  whom  I  re 
ceived  definite  and  positive  orders  to  advance  to  the  support  of 
Brigadier  General  John  Beatty,  commanding  First  Brigade, 
who  was  being  hard  pressed.  Having  reported  to  Beatty,  under 
his  direction,  I  formed  my  line  of  battle  at  right  angles  with  the 
road.  This  was  hardly  done  when  the  enemy  advanced  on  us  in 
heavy  force.  The  Eighteenth  Ohio  and  the  Eleventh  Michigan, 
forming  the  first  line,  opened  a  rapid  and  effective  fire,  which 
checked  the  enemy.  Observing  this,  I  ordered  the  Nineteenth 
Illinois  forward,  and  on  their  closing  up  I  ordered  the  line  for 
ward  to  which  all  responded  with  cheers  of  triumph,  and  the 
enemy  fled  in  dismay,  though  several  times  our  number,  We 
thus  drove  them  for  a  half  mile  or  more,  strewing  the  giound 
with  killed  and  wounded,  and  taking  a  large  number  of  prisoners. 
Among  the  latter  were  Brigadier  General  Adams  and  one  or  two 
of  his  staff,  who  surrendered  to  officers  of  this  Brigade,  and  were 
sent  to  the  rear  under  guard  by  the  Assistant  Adjutant  General, 
Captain  R.  J.  Waggener.  I  myself  talked  with  General  Adams 
(who  told  me  his  name)  and  know  that  he  was  captured  by  my 
brigade.  He  was  wounded  and  asked  me  to  send  him  a  stretcher, 
which  I  was  unable  to  do.  Quite  a  number  of  other  officers  were 
near  him,  dead  and  wounded,  and  one  of  my  officers  who  observed 
closely  thinks  there  was  another  Brigadier  General  among  the  lot. 
Our  volleys  were  destructive  to  them,  and  I  attribute  their  utter 
rout  to  the  skillful  fire  and  impetuosity  of  my  brigade. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  369 

Having  followed  up  the  enemy  a  considerable  distance,  and 
finding  myself  wholly  unsupported,  I  slowly  fell  back  a  few  paces 
under  heavy  fire  from  the  Washington  Battery  (which  had 
opened  on  my  line) ,  for  the  purpose  of  closing  up  my  ranks  and  se 
curing  some  support.  General  Beatty  in  the  meantime  had 
brought  up  a  brigade  to  my  rear,  which  he  had  "borrowed,"  and 
I  halted  my  command  in  their  front,  imforming  them  that  I 
would  check  the  enemy  and,  if  the  fire  became  too  hot,  would  fall 
back  on  them  and  fight  with  them,  but  was  only  allowed  a  few 
minutes'  rest  before  the  enemy  in  strong  force  attacked  me. 
Being  hard  pressed  I  gave  the  order,  after  firing  a  number  of 
rounds,  to  fall  back  fighting  to  the  supoprt.  Upon  looking 
around,  however,  I  found  the  support  had  disappeared  and  we 
were  left  to  our  own  resources. 

I  would  be  glad  to  state  what  brigade  this  was  that  so  shame 
fully  deserted  us  without  firing  a  gun,  but,  although  I  think  I  am 
correctly  informed,  I  am  not  sufficiently  certain  to  express  an 
opinion. 

My  brigade  continued  to  fall  back  slowly,  halting  and  firing 
at  intervals,  presenting  a  good  front  to  the  enemy,  until  I  with 
drew  my  command  and  took  a  position  next  to  some  log  buildings 
on  the  brow  of  a  hill  near  the  Rossville  Road.  The  enemy  soon 
began  a  fierce  and  determined  attack  on  this  position,  defended 
as  it  was  by  part  of  a  battery  of  the  Fourth  United  States  Ar 
tillery,  which  did  its  duty  well,  supported  by  my  brigade  and  some 
scattered  fragments  of  other  regiments.  While  conducting  the 
defense  of  this  point  and  earnestly  striving  to  employ  the  forces 
under  my  command  to  the  best  advantage  I  was  struck  by  a  ball 
or  piece  of  shell  on  the  right  shoulder,  and  finding  myself  unable 
to  continue  longer  on  the  field,  I  turned  over  the  command  to 
Colonel  Stoughton,  of  the  Eleventh  Michigan,  who  conducted 
the  brigade  through  the  rest  of  the  engagement  of  that  day,  and 
until  we  marched,  on  the  night  of  Monday,  21st,  from  Rossville 
to  this  place.  I  was,  however,  with  the  brigade  on  the  morning 
and  throughout  the  day  on  Monday,  assisting  so  far  as  able. 
During  the  charge  heretofore  spoken  of,  Brigadier  General 
Beatty  was  with  me  and  by  his  cool  and  gallant  bearing  added 
to  the  enthusiasm  of  my  officers  and  men,  and  will  be  long  re 
membered  by  them. 


370  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

I  cannot  state  the  number  of  prisoners  taken,  for  the  reason 
that  they  were  sent  to  the  rear  to  other  commands.  The  several 
commanding  officers  discharged  their  duties  faithfully  and  well. 
Colonel  Stoughton,  of  the  Eleventh  Michigan,  displayed  the  same 
coolness  and  fearlessness  as  at  Stone's  River.  I  cautioned  him 
that  he  exposed  himself  too  much  but  saw  no  change  in  that 
respect  afterwards.  The  same  may  be  said  of  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Raffen,  of  the  Nineteenth  Illinois,  who  was  always 
ready,  prompt,  and  courageous;  as  also  of  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Grosvenor,  of  the  Eighteenth  Ohio,  who  with  his  regiment,  was 
in  the  hottest  of  the  fight. 


Accompanying  this  is  the  report  of  Colonel  Stoughton  for 
the  time  he  was  in  command.  He  sustained  himself  well  and, 
with  the  brigade  made  such  a  fight  as  is  seldom  made  by  so  small 
a  number  of  men.  After  I  resumed  command  I  marched  to  this 
point  with  the  Division,  leaving  the  Sixty-ninth  Ohio,  which 
joined  us  at  Rossville,  Monday,  the  twenty-first,  with  regiments 
from  other  brigades,  in  charge  of  Colonel  Stoughton,  who  brought 
up  the  rear  in  good  order  in  the  morning. 

Since  our  arrival  here  I  have  been  engaged  more  or  less,  day 
and  night,  on  the  earthworks,  and  my  men  have  displayed  the 
same  willingness  to  labor  as  to  fight.  The  loss  of  valuable 
officers  and  men  of  my  command  has  been  heavy  both  in  killed 
and  wounded.  A  report  of  the  casualties  has  been  already  for 
warded. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  R.  STANLEY, 
Colonel  Commanding. 
MAJ.  JAMES  A.  LOWRIE, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

REPORT  OF  COLONEL  WILLIAM  L.  STOUGHTON. 

Headquarters  Second  Brigade,  Second  Division, 
Fourteenth  Army  Corps. 

Chattanooga,  September  27,  1863. 

SIR: — I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  re 
port  of  the  operations  of  the  Second  Brigade  while  under  me 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  371 

in  the  recent  engagement.  I  assumed  command  about  twelve, 
noon,  of  the  twentieth  inst.,  Colonel  Stanley  having  been 
wounded  and  left  the  field.  About  one  o'clock  I  advanced  the 
command  about  fifty  yards  and  drove  the  enemy,  who  had  opened 
a  scattering  fire  upon  us,  from  our  immediate  front.  I  then 
placed  the  Eleventh  Michigan  and  Nineteenth  Illinois  Regi 
ments  in  line  of  battle,  in  a  strong  position,  under  cover  of  the 
hill,  leaving  the  Eighteenth  Ohio  to  support  a  section  of  the 
Fourth  United  States  Artillery  and  watch  the  motions  of  the  foe. 
Soon  after  the  brigade  had  taken  this  position  the  enemy  made  a 
spirited  attack  on  a  hill  to  my  right,  occupied  by  the  left  of 
General  Brannan's  Division,  apparently  driving  our  troops  back. 
I  at  once  ordered  the  Eleventh  Michigan  and  Nineteenth  Illinois 
to  their  support.  These  regiments  advanced  at  a  double  quick 
and  charged  upon  the  enemy,  driving  him  from  the  hill.  Im 
mediately  after  this  charge  I  was  informed  by  General  John 
Beatty  that  our  position  upon  this  hill  must  be  maintained,  and 
was  directed  to  use  the  forces  under  my  command  for  that  pur 
pose.  I  thereupon  placed  my  forces  along  the  crest  of  the  hill, 
the  Nineteenth  Illinois  on  the  right,  and  the  Eleventh  Michigan 
On  the  left,  and  constructed  rude  breastworks. 

My  Brigade  was  by  far  the  largest,  if  not  the  only,  organized 
force  on  the  hill,  and  I  accordingly  assumed  command.  The 
fragments  of  the  regiments  on  the  hill  and  all  men  found  in  the 
rear  were  placed  in  the  most  available  positions.  About  four 
o'clock  the  enemy  made  a  vigorous  attack  upon  our  position,  and 
a  contest  ensued,  which  in  its  fierceness  and  duration  has  few 
parallels.  Our  troops  without  exception,  maintained  their 
ground  with  unfaltering  courage,  and  the  few  who  recoiled  from 
the  storm  of  bullets  were  speedily  rallied,  and  returned  with  re 
newed  vigor.  The  enemy  was  in  heavy  force,  and  fought  with 
the  most  determined  obstinacy.  As  fast  as  their  ranks  were 
thinned  by  our  fire  they  were  filled  up  by  fresh  troops.  They 
pressed  forward  and  charged  up  to  our  lines,  firing  across  our 
breastworks,  and  planted  their  colors  within  one  hundred  feet 
of  our  own.  A  dense  cloud  of  smoke  enveloped  our  lines,  and  in 
some  places  the  position  of  the  foe  could  only  be  known  by  the 
flash  of  their  guns. 


372  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

At  six  p.  m.  the  enemy  still  held  his  position,  and  as  a  last 
resort,  I  ordered  up  the  Eighteenth  Ohio,  and  rallying  every 
man  that  could  be  got,  charged  forward  with  cheers  upon  his 
colors.  His  flag  went  down.  His  lines  broke,  and  fell  back  from 
the  hill.  During  the  fight  Brigadier  General  John  Beatty  rode 
up  and  assisted  materially  in  sustaining  and  inspiring  the  men. 
His  assistance  there,  and  also  in  sending  men  forward,  was  timely 
and  very  valuable. 

Our  ammunition  having  become  exhausted  during  the  fight, 
every  cartridge  that  could  be  found  on  the  killed  and  wounded, 
as  well  as  in  the  boxes  of  the  captured  prisoners,  were  taken  and 
distributed  to  the  men.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Raffen,  of  the 
Nineteenth  Illinois,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Grosvenor,  of  the 
Eighteenth  Ohio,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Mudge,  of  the  Eleventh 
Michigan,  behaved  with  great  coolness  and  gallantry,  and 
managed  their  respective  regiments  with  skill  and  ability;  the 
last  named  was  severely  wounded. 


About  eight  o'clock  p.m.  orders  came  from  General  Brannan 
to  retire,  and  the  Brigade  was  quietly  formed  and  marched  in 
good  order  to  Rossville.  About  half  an  hour  before  we  left  a 
raking  fire  was  poured  into  our  ranks  by  the  enemy  from  a  hill 
to  our  right,  which  had  been  occupied  and  as  we  supposed  was 
still  held  by  General  Granger's  Reserve  Corps.  On  the  morning 
of  the  twenty-first,  by  your  orders,  I  took  position  with  my  Bri 
gade  on  a  road  leading  in  a  southeasterly  direction  from  Rossville. 
The  enemy  appeared  in  force  on  our  front  and  an  artillery  fight 
was  kept  up  most  of  the  day.  At  night  the  Sixty-ninth  Ohio 
was  posted  as  pickets  at  our  front,  and  according  to  your  orders 
I  withdrew  the  rest  of  the  brigade  at  twelve  o'clock,  moving 
the  artillery  by  hand,  and  formed  the  column  on  the  Chattanooga 
road,  where  Colonel  Stanley  again  assumed  command. 
I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

WILLIAM  L.  STOUGHTON, 
Colonel  Eleventh  Michigan  Infantry, 
Commanding  Second  Brigade, 
MAJ.  JAMES  A.  LOWRIE, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General,  Second  Division. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  373 

MISSIONARY  RIDGE. 

(Extract  from  Colonel  Moore,  Sixty-ninth  Ohio.) 

In  his  official  report,  dated  Headquarters  Sixty-ninth  Reg 
iment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  Chattanooga,  December  5,  1863, 
Colonel  Marshall  F.  Moore,  commanding  the  demi-brigade, 
says:  "I  was  left  in  command  of  the  left  wing  of  the  brigade, 
composed  of  the  Nineteenth  Illinois,  Sixty-ninth  Ohio,  and  the 
Eleventh  Michigan.  Of  these  the  two  former  named  regiments 
were  in  the  first  and  the  last  in  the  second  line,  the  Nineteenth 
Illinois  forming  the  extreme  left  of  the  Division.  Between  two 
and  three  o'clock  p.  m.  we  were  directed  to  move  by  the  left 
flank  toward  the  position  occupied  by  General  Sheridan,  whose 
Division  was  formed  in  line  of  battle  in  a  strip  of  timber  bordering 
on  the  marshy  plain  at  the  base  of  the  Ridge.  After  advancing 
until  our  left  was  nearly  opposite  Sheridan's  right,  we  threw  out  a 
strong  line  of  skirmishers  and  moved  forward  until  our  main  line 
connected  with  his.  The  whole  line  was  now  ordered  to  advance, 
and  immediately  on  our  emerging  from  the  timber  into  the  open 
plain,  the  enemy  opened  on  us  from  the  summit  of  Missionary 
Ridge,  with  a  most  deadly  fire.  The  command  was  now  given  to 
charge,  and  our  line  moved  off  at  double-quick  with  loud  cheers, 
the  sound  of  which  mingled  with  the  roar  of  artillery  and  ex 
ploding  shells.  Our  skirmishers  had  now  become  engaged  with 
the  enemy,  who  were  occupying  a  line  of  rifle-pits  at  the  base  of 
the  Ridge.  Upon  these  our  main  line  charged  and  speedily 
drove  them  out,  and  a  large  number  of  prisoners  were  taken. 

"At  these  rifle-pits  our  men  halted  for  a  few  moments  to  take 
breath.  At  the  command  forward,  they  moved  on  up  the  hill 
promptly,  in  the  face  of  heavy  volleys  of  musketry  and  a  galling 
fire  of  grape,  cannister  and  shell  from  the  batteries  in  front  to 
our  left,  which  kept  up  an  oblique  fire  across  the  slope  of  the  hill. 
Just  above  the  rifle-pits  I  was  struck  down  by  a  piece  of  shell, 
but  soon  recovering,  I  found  our  line  slowly  advancing  in  the 
face  of  a  very  destructive  fire  from  the  rifle-pit  breastworks  on 
the  crest  of  the  Ridge.  Under  this  fire,  our  line,  though  checked 
did  not  waver.  Led  by  gallant  officers,  the  men  continued  to 
advance,  and  when  within  a  few  rods  of  the  summit,  raised 
another  shout  and  rushed  forward,  driving  the  enemy  from  his 
last  stronghold  in  splendid  style.  The  Nineteenth  Illinois  and 
Sixty-ninth  Ohio,  which  were  in  the  first  line,  did  not  stop  at 


374  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

the  summit,  but  charged  down  to  the  foot  of  the  hill  on  the  other 
side,  where,  having  no  support,  they  halted  and  reformed.  One 
piece  of  artillery  and  a  large  number  of  prisoners  fell  into  our 
hands  after  reaching  the  crest;  among  the  latter  was  the  Colonel 
of  the  Seventh  Florida  regiment,  who  surrendered  to  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Raffen,  of  the  Nineteenth  Illinois  Volunteers. 

Without  wishing  to  disparage  any  other  troops  where  all 
behaved  so  nobly,  it  is  due  to  the  regiments  of  my  command  to 
say  that  they  were,  if  not  the  first,  at  least  among  the  very  first, 
to  gain  the  summit.  Our  colors  were  among  the  first  planted  on 
the  crest,  although  the  Color  bearers  of  both  the  Nineteenth  and 
the  Sixty-ninth  fell  mortally  wounded  before  they  had  enjoyed 
what  they  so  richly  deserved — the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the 
Standards  they  had  so  honorably  borne  waving  over  Missionary 
Ridge.  The  Colors  of  the  Sixty-ninth  Ohio  were  taken  up  and 
borne  forward,  after  the  fall  of  the  Color  Sergeant,  by  Lieutenant 
Frederick  E.  Wilson,  of  Company  H,  and  those  of  the  Nineteenth 
Illinois  by  Captain  David  F.  Bremner,  of  Company  E,  of  their 
respective  regiments.  Taking  into  consideration  the  fact  that 
when  they  went  into  this  action  both  officers  and  men  were  worn 
out  for  want  of  rest,  and  by  fatigue  and  exposure,  their  conduct 
in  this  memorable  charge  is  beyond  all  praise." 

Colonel  Moore,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Raffen  and  Major 
Guthrie,  of  the  Nineteenth,  were  "conspicuous  for  their  gallantry; 
and  the  same  could  be  said  with  equal  justice  of  all  the  other 
officers  and  the  men  in  the  regiment." 

The  report  of  Colonel  William  L.  Stoughton,  of  the  Eleventh 
Michigan  Infantry  (General  King  was  absent),  commanding 
the  entire  Second  Brigade,  reads  as  follows: 

Headquarters  Second  Brigade,  First  Division, 
Fourteenth  Army  Corps. 

Chattanooga,  December  5,  1863. 

SIR  : — I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the 
operations  of  the  forces  under  my  command  in  the  action  of  the 
twenty-fifth  ultimo,  and  the  subsequent  pursuit  of  the  enemy. 
During  the  forenoon  of  that  day,  the  Brigade  was  withdrawn 
from  the  picket  line  and  formed  in  front  of  the  Rossville  Road. 
The  right  wing,  composed  of  the  first  and  second  battalions  of 
the  Fifteenth  and  Eighteenth,  the  Sixteenth  and  Nineteenth 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  375 

United  States  Infantry,  was  placed  under  the  immediate 
command  of  Major  Edie,  and  the  left,  composed  of  the  Sixty-ninth 
Ohio,  Nineteenth  Illinois,  and  Eleventh  Michigan  Volunteers, 
under  the  command  of  Colonel  Moore.  About  one  p.  m.,  by 
your  orders,  I  moved  the  brigade  to  the  left  and  closed  on  the 
right  of  General  Sheridan's  Division,  the  First  Brigade  of  this 
Division  closing  on  our  right  and  completing  the  line  of  attack. 

Our  position  at  this  time  was  partially  concealed  by  the 
woods.  An  open  field  extended  thence  nearly  half  a  mile  to 
Missionary  Ridge — a  strong  position  occupied  by  the  enemy 
and  fortified  by  a  line  of  rifle-pits  about  half  way  up  the  side,  a 
stout  breastwork  on  the  crest,  with  cannon  planted  at  intervals. 
Between  three  and  four  p.  m.,  orders  were  received  to  attack  the 
enemy's  works,  and  the  whole  line  at  once  advanced.  On 
emerging  from  the  woods  the  troops  weie  exposed  to  a  heavy  fire 
from  the  enemy's  artillery.  The  skirmishers  covering  our  front 
at  the  same  time  engaged  those  of  the  enemy,  driving  them  in, 
and  the  whole  line  moved  rapidly  and  in  admirable  order  across 
the  field.  On  reaching  the  base  of  the  hill  the  fire  of  the  Confed 
erates,  both  of  infantry  and  artillery,  became  still  more  destruc 
tive,  and  I  gave  orders  to  charge  the  first  line  of  rifle-pits.  These 
were  speedily  carried,  and  most  of  the  enemy  occupying  them 
were  either  disabled  or  captured  and  sent  to  the  rear. 

After  resting  a  few  minutes  for  the  men  to  recover  their 
breath  and  to  close  up  the  ranks,  the  order  was  passed  along 
the  line  to  charge  the  breastworks.  At  the  command  the  whole 
line  sprang  forward  in  gallant  style  and  moved  rapidly  up  the 
steep  and  difficult  ascent.  When  near  the  crest  they  dashed 
forward  with  a  shout  of  victory,  routing  the  enemy,  drove  him 
from  his  stronghold,  and  captured  a  large  number  of  prisoners 
with  one  piece  of  artillery. 

The  command  bivouacked  on  the  hill  during  the  night,  and 
next  morning  formed  part  of  the  column  which  followed  in  pur 
suit  of  the  retreating  foe.  Soon  after  dark  we  crossed  a  small 
creek  about  a  mile  south  of  Graysville,  and  by  your  direction  I 
formed  the  Brigade  in  line  of  battle  and  moved  through  a  piece 
of  woods  to  attack  the  enemy  on  a  road  leading  from  that  place 
to  Ringgold.  On  approaching  the  road  we  surprised  and  cap 
tured  his  pickets,  and  learning  his  position  moved  promptly 
forward  and  made  a  vigorous  attack,  capturing  over  sixty 
prisoners,  one  flag,  three  pieces  of  artillery,  two  caissons  with 


376  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

horses  and  equipment  complete.  One  gun,  dismounted  and 
thrown  over  the  river  bank,  and  two  caissons,  abandoned  by 
the  enemy  in  his  flight,  were  found  the  next  morning  and  secured. 
The  captured  artillery  was  known  as  Ferguson's  Battery. 

We  remained  at  Graysville  during  the  night,  and  early  next 
morning  one  regiment  was  sent  to  Chattanooga  with  the  captured 
artillery  while  the  remaider  of  the  Brigade  resumed  the  march  to 
Ringgold.  On  arriving  at  that  place  a  line  of  battle  was  imme 
diately  formed  in  front  of  a  range  of  hills  occupied  by  the  enemy. 
The  position  was,  however,  carried  by  the  troops  who  were  en 
gaged  when  we  came  up.  The  command  remained  here  until 
the  twenty-ninth  ultimo,  when,  pursuant  to  orders,  we  returned 
to  camp  at  Chattanooga. 

It  would  be  doing  injustice  to  the  troops  of  my  command  if 
I  were  to  close  this  report  without  mentioning  the  noble  and  gal 
lant  manner  in  which  they  performed  the  duties  required  of  them. 
Although  somewhat  exhausted  by  three  days'  incessant  picket 
duty  prior  to  the  Battle  of  Missionary  Ridge,  they  neither  hes 
itated  nor  faltered,  but  entered  into  the  engagement  with  the 
ardor  and  enthusiasm  of  fresh  troops,  nor  were  they  last  upon 
the  Ridge. 

The  Brigade  captured  in  all  five  pieces  of  artillery,  one 
stand  of  colors,  and  six  hundred  and  thirty-nine  prisoners,  in 
cluding  one  colonel.  The  Brigade  went  into  action  with  eighty- 
six  commissioned  officers  and  1,455  enlisted  men,  making  an 
aggregate  of  1,541.  Of  these  twenty-five  were  killed  and  one 
hundred  and  thirty-six  wounded. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

WILLIAM  L.  STOUGHTON, 
Colonel  Eleventh  Michigan  Infantry, 
Commanding  Brigade. 
BRIG.  GEN.  R.  W.  JOHNSON, 

Commanding  First  Division. 

REPORT  OF  A  REGIMENTAL  COMMANDER. 

Headquarters  Nineteenth  Illinois  Infantry. 

Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  December  3,  1863. 
SIR:— In  obedience  to  orders,  I  would  respectfully  report 
that  my  Regiment  went  on  picket  duty  the  morning  of  Sunday, 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  377 

November  22,  and  remained  on  that  duty  until  about  two-thirty 
o'clock  p.  m.  Wednesday,  November  25,  when  we  were  relieved 
and  took  position  on  the  left  of  the  Brigade,  in  the  right  front 
of  Fort  Wood.  By  your  direction,  I  then  deployed  one  company 
as  skirmishers  to  connect  with  the  right  of  the  line  of  skirmishers 
of  General  Sheridan's  Division,  which  was  on  our  left.  We  then 
advanced  in  line  of  battle  toward  Missionary  Ridge,  emerging 
from  the  wood  into  the  open  plain,  about  three-thirty  p.  m., 
under  a  very  heavy  fire  of  both  artillery  and  infantry,  and  took 
possession  of  the  enemy's  rifle-pits  at  the  foot  of  the  hill.  Resting 
a  moment  or  two  only,  we  advanced  up  the  ridge  dislodging  the 
enemy  after  a  most  desperate  resistance,  and  secured  position  on 
the  crest  at  about  four-thirty  p.  m.,  our  regimental  colors  being 
the  first  on  the  top  of  the  ridge  in  this  part  of  the  line.  The  enemy 
fled  in  disorder,  and  we  captured  one  piece  of  artillery  in  a  ravine 
at  the  foot  of  the  Ridge,  on  the  eastern  side,  which  was  after 
ward  taken  possession  of  by  a  regiment  of  Sheridan's  Division. 
While  ascending  the  ridge  the  Colonel  of  the  Seventh  Florida 
Infantry  surrendered  to  me,  and  I  sent  him  to  the  rear  under 
guard.  Quite  a  large  number  of  prisoners  passed  through  our 
lines,  and  we  sent  them  to  the  rear  without  guards.  The  reg 
iment  went  into  bivouac  on  the  top  of  the  Ridge  at  about  five- 
thirty  p.  m. 

I  would  make  special  mention  of  Major  James  V.  Guthrie, 
who  was  conspicuous  in  cheering  the  men  in  the  charge  up  the 
hill;  Captain  David  F.  Bremner,  of  Company  E,  who  planted 
our  Colors  with  his  own  hands  in  the  rebel  works  on  the  crest  of 
the  hill;  Captain  James  G.  Campbell,  of  Company  F,  who  was 
wounded,  near  the  top  of  the  hill,  while  in  advance  of  the  line 
cheering  the  men  forward;  Captain  Presley  N.  Guthrie,  of  Com 
pany  K,  who  was  also  conspicuous  in  cheering  and  urging  the 
men  forward  during  the  whole  action;  and  Adjutant  Lester  G. 
Bangs,  who  was  severely  wounded  while  in  advance  of  the  line 
as  we  emerged  from  the  wood  at  the  foot  of  the  hill.  I  would 
also  mention,  for  most  gallant  conduct,  Sergeant  George  Steel,  of 
Company  E,  Color  bearer,  and  Private  Patrick  McDonald,  of 
Company  K,  and  John  Brosnahan,  of  Company  E,  who  took  the 
Colors  in  turn  after  the  Color  Sergeant  had  been  wounded .  In  fact, 
every  man  engaged  behaved  with  great  coolness  and  gallantry. 


378  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

The  whole  force  present  in  the  engagement  was  thirteen 
officers  and  one  hundred  and  eighty-two  non-commissioned 
officers  and  privates,  of  whom  were  killed  two  privates;  wounded, 
two  officers  and  twenty-two  enlisted  men;  missing,  none.  Total 
killed  and  wounded  twenty-six.  The  number  who  bivouacked 
on  the  top  of  the  hill  was  ten  officers  and  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
seven  enlisted  men. 


APPENDIX 


ILLINOIS. 


"By  thy  rivers  gently  flowing, 

Illinois,  Illinois, 
O'er  thy  prairies  verdant  growing, 

Illinois,  Illinois, 
Comes  an  echo  on  the  breeze, 
Rustling  thro'  the  leafy  trees, 
And  its  mellow  tones  are  these— 

Illinois,  Illinois. 

When  you  heard  your  Country  calling, 

Illinois,  Illinois, 

Where  the  shot  and  shell  were  falling, 
Illinois,  Illinois, 

When  the  Southern  host  withdrew, 
Putting  Gray  against  the  Blue, 
There  were  none  more  brave  than  you, 
Illinois,  Illinois. 

Not  without  thy  wondrous  story, 

Illinois,   Illinois, 
Can  be  writ  the  Nation's  glory, 

Illinois,  Illinois; 
On  the  record  of  thy  years 
Abraham  Lincoln's  name  appears, 
Grant  and  Logan,  and  our  tears, 

Illinois,  Illinois." 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  383 


THE  COLORS  WHICH  WE  FOLLOWED. 


"Forever  float  that  Standard  sheet! 

Where  breathes  the  foe  but  falls  before  us. 
With  Freedom's  soil  beneath  our  feet, 

And  Freedom's  Banner  streaming  o'er  us!" 

— Joseph  Rodman  Drake. 

Of  course,  and  during  the  war.,  flags  were  to  be  seen  on 
either  side;  but  the  same  Flag,  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  was 
the  proud  Emblem  of  all  Union  soldiers  and  sailors.  In  the 
armies  Its  regimental  folds  were  inscribed  in  historic  gild 
with  the  names  of  battles,  and  often  was  crimsoned  with 
the  blood  of  the  brave  men  who  carried  It.  We  also  had 
the  state  Flag  in  each  regiment ;  but  it  was  the  Star  Spangled 
Banner  that  we  ever  honored  most;  and,  it  is  hardly  neces 
sary  to  record  the  fact  that  this  was  the  one  thing  which  the 
Nineteenth  Illinois  Infantry  held  the  dearest  of  all  its  pos 
sessions.  It  was  a  great  disgrace  for  a  regiment  to  lose  its 
Colors  in  battle;  and  emphasis  may  be  laid  on  the  fact  that 
such  shame  never  fell  to  the  Nineteenth  during  its  many 
combats;  yet  did  we  capture  those  of  the  enemy.* 

Immediately  after  the  battle  of  Stone -River  the  people 
of  Chicago  determined  to  present  our  Regiment  with  a 
new  Stand  of  Colors.  Our  Flags,  already  worn  by  usage, 
whipped  into  holes  by  the  winds,  riddled  by  bullets  in  num 
erous  skirmishes  or  heavier  engagements,  were  almost 
entirely  done  for  in  those  two  days  near  Murfreesboro,  and 

*The  Confederacy  changed  its  flag  three  times  during  the  Rebellion.  First  came 
the  "stars  and  bars,"  hoisted  over  the  Capitol  at  Montgomery  the  fourth  of 
March,  1861;  with  its  seven  stars  and  three  stripes,  it  looked,  amid  dust  and  smoke,  so 
much  like  the  repudiated  Union  Flag  that  something  more  original  was  sought  for. 
Then  came  a  battk  flag  with  a  red  field  crossed  by  two  blue  bars,  each  bearing  six 
gilt  stars,  besides  a  large  one  in  the  certer;  and  finally  it  was  the  "Southern  cross," 
which  the  surviving  Confederates  honor  to  this  day. 


384  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

this  fact  having  come  to  the  knowledge  of  our  friends  at 
home,  in  due  course,  Flags  bright  and  beautiful,  as  rich  and 
costly  a  set  as  ever  gladdened  any  regiment,  were  in  our 
hands;  and  for  a  matter  of  one  year  and  five  months,  although 
in  many  a  combat,  never  were  those  colors  lowered  in  de 
feat.  Not  one  single  touch  of  disgrace  or  dishonor,  not  the 
slightest  spot  of  shame  or  cowardice,  not  the  breath  of  a 
blunder,  nor  that  of  discomfiture,  no  trace  of  ever  having 
been  vanquished,  can  be  found  in  their  record.  But  in 
their  Stars  and  Stripes,  in  the  Red,  White  and  Blue  of  their 
composition  can  be  read  the  story  of  Victory  accomplished, 
of  Duty  to  the  National  Government  faithfully  performed, 
of  the  Honor  of  the  dear  State  of  Illinois  firmly  and  devoted 
ly  upheld  by  officers  and  men  alike,  whose  names  are  borne 
on  the  rolls  of  the  Regiment  with  which  this  volume  deals. 
And  the  Colors  once  so  proudly  followed  by  the  Nineteenth 
may  now  be  seen  in  the  Capitol  Building  at  Springfield, 
Illinois.  They  were  delivered  to  Governor  Richard  Yates 
by  Comrade  Lieutenant  John  Young,  and  today  they  hang, 
with  many  other  regimantal  Flags,  Standards,  Guidons, 
etc.,  and  many  another  War  Relic,  in  Memorial  Hall,  at 
the  Capital  of  a  State  which  sent  no  fewer  than  one  hundred 
and  fifty-six  Regiments  of  Infantry,  seventeen  of  Cavalry, 
and  two  of  Artillery,  a  total  of  about  259,000  soldiers,  to 
the  Front  in  the  Civil  War! 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  385 

SCATTERING   SHOTS. 


ITINERARY  OF  THE  REGIMENT. 

The  following  itinerary  of  the  Regiment  will  prove  of  interest  and  be  of 
value  in  determining  disputed  questions  as  to  the  location  of  the  Regiment 
on  any  given  date.  It  was  compiled  from  the.  regimental  monthly  reports 
and  the  writer  believes  it  to  be  absolutely  correct. 


1861, 

July 

13 

" 

14 

" 

14 

" 

21 

" 

22 

" 

22 

" 

27 

Aug. 

4 

" 

5 

" 

15 

" 

17 

" 

18 

" 

31 

Sept. 

7 

" 

9 

" 

14 

" 

16 

u 

17 

" 

18 

« 

19 

u 

24 

u 

25 

1 

"  2 

"  25 

Nov.  16 

Dec.  12 


Arrived  at 

Quincy,  Illinois. 

Hannibal,  Missouri. 

Palmyra, 

Emerson 

Philadelphia, 

Palmyra, 

St.  Louis, 

Bird's  Point, 

Norfolk, 

Bird's  Point, 

Sulphur  Springs,        " 

Pilot  Knob, 

Jackson, 

Cape  Girardeau,        " 

Fort  Holt,         Kentucky. 

Elliott's  Mills, 

Cairo,  Illinois. 

Accident  on  O.  &  M.  R.  R 

Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

Camp  Dennison,        " 

Cincinnati, 

Louisville,          Kentucky. 

Lebanon  June., 

Chicago, 

Lebanon  June., 

Elizabethtown, 

First  issue  Zouave  Gazette 

Bacon  Creek,    Kentucky. 


1862.  Arrived  at 

Feb.  12  Bowling  Green,  Kentucky. 

March  4  Nashville,         Tennessee. 

"  19  Murfreesboro, 

April  6  Shelbyville, 

"  9  Fayetteville, 

"  11  Huntsville,          Alabama. 

"  12  Tuscumbia, 

"  27  Huntsville, 

"  30  Athens, 

May  27  Fayetteville,      Tennessee. 

June  2  Salem, 

"  3  Cowan, 

4  Sweden's  Cove, 

"  6  Jasper, 

7  Chattanooga, 

"  8  Andrews  Farm, 

"  9  Jasper, 

"  10  Near  Stevenson,  Alabama. 

"  11  Crow  Creek, 

"  12  Belief  onte, 

"  15  Huntsville, 

"  16  Rock  Springs,             " 

"  17  Winchester,                "  ' 

.  "  24  Camden, 

"  25  Paint  Rock  Sta.,        " 

"  26  Larkinsville, 

"  27  Bellefonte, 

"  28  Stevenson,                  " 

"  30  Bridgeport, 

July  22  Huntsville, 


386 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 


ITINERARY  OF  THE  REGIMENT— Continued. 


1862.  Arrived  at  1863. 

July  22  to  Aug.  26.     Scattered  along  Sept. 
M.&C.andT.&  A.  C.       " 
R.  R.  guarding  bridges;       " 
headquarters  at  Hunts-       " 
ville;     left     Huntsville, 
Aug.  26. 

Nashville,          Tennessee.       " 

Lavergne,  "  Nov. 

Murfreesboro, 

Nashville,  " 

Battle  Stone    River,  Tenn.     " 


Aug.     30 

"      31 

Sept.      1 

6 

Dec.     31 

1863. 
Jan.  1&2 
3 

March  4 
4 
9 

"       15 

June    24 

"      25 

"      26 

"      27 

"      27 

"      30 

July        1 


10 

"       13 

"       15 

"      18 

Sept.      1 

2 

3 

4 

"        6 

7 

8 

9 

"       10 


Battle  Stone  River,  Tenn.     1864 

Murfreesboro,  Tennessee.    Feb. 

Brady  ville,  "  " 

Murfreesboro,  "  " 

Salem,  " 

Murfreesboro,  "  " 

Marched  via:  " 

Hoover's  Gap,  " 

Beech  Grove, 

Fairfield, 

Manchester, 

Tallahoma, 

Winchester,  " 

Elk  River, 

Decherd, 

Cowan, 

Tantallen, 

Anderson, 

To  Cave  Springs,  Georgia. 

Caperton's  Ferry,   Ala. 

Opposite  Bridgeport " 

On  Raccoon  M'nt's  " 

Near  Trenton,  Georgia. 

On  Lookout  Creek,   " 

Stevens  Gap, 

On  Lookout  M't'n,   " 

Bailey's  Crossr'ds,     " 

Davis  Crossroads,     " 


Arrived  at 

11  Dug  Gap,  Georgia. 

11  Bailey's  Crossr'ds,     " 

17  Craw  Fish  Springs,    " 

19  Battle  Chickam'ga,  " 

20  Battle  Chickam'ga,  " 

20  Rossville  Gap,  Tennessee. 

22  Chattanooga, 

25  Battle  Missionary 

Ridge, 

26  Grayville,  Georgia. 

27  Ringgold, 

29  Chattanooga,  Tennessee. 


22 
"       23 

"       23 
"      25 
"      27 
"      27 
March  2 
May      3 
7 

"  14 
"  15 
"  17 
"  18 
"  19 
"  23 


Georgia. 


Ringgold, 

Tunnel  Hill, 

Catoosa  Station,        " 

Buzzard's  Roost,       " 

Parker's  Gap, 

Tyners  Station,  Tennessee. 

Grayville,  Georgia. 

Ringgold,  " 

Tunnel  Hill, 

Bat.  of  Resaca, 

Bat,  of  Resaca, 

Calhoun, 

Adairsville,  " 

Kingston, 

Left  Kingston  on  Atlanta 

campaign 

Burnt  Hickory,  Georgia. 
7     Ackworth, 

Our  term  of  service  having  about  ex 
pired   we    started    on   our    homeward 
journey  from  Ackworth,  Ga.,  on  June  7. 
June     10     Chattanooga,  Tennessee. 
"       13     Nashville, 

15     Louisville,  Kentucky. 
"       17     Chicago,  Illinois. 
"       18     Camp  Fry. 

9     Mustered  out. 


June      2 


July 


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THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  387 

LIEUTENANT  THOMAS  M.  BEATTY,  Co.  A.  A  most  excellent  officer. 
Perhaps  no  one  did  more  to  keep  alive  the  spirit  of  true  comradeship  among; 
the  survivors  of  the  Regiment. 

As  a  soldier,  none  had  a  better  record.  He  was  wounded  during  the 
attack  on  Chattanooga  in  1862.  Owing  to  his  Captain,  and  1st  Lieutenant 
being  on  detached  service,  he  was  in  command  of  his  company  in  every  battle. 

He  died  March  15,  1904. 

ADJUTANT  LESTER  G.  BANGS.  The  sketch  of  his  experience  at  the  Battle 
of  Stone  River,  printed  in  the  preceeding  pages,  will  interest  the  survivors. 

Wounded  at  Chickamauga,  he  was  with  us  again  at  Missionary  Ridge, 
when  he  was  again  wounded,  resulting  in  the  amputation  of  his  leg.  He  now 
resides  in  Carroll,  Iowa. 

CORPORAL  DAVID  MCARTHUR,  Co.  E,  was  one  of  the  most  gallant  and 
meritorious  soldiers  in  the  Regiment.  He  was  severely  wounded  at  the  Battle 
of  Stone  River. 

During  a  reconnaissance  in  force  to  Buzzard'sRoost, near Dalton, Georgia, 
February,  1864,  the  enemy  was  in  a  strong  position  in  the  mountain  gap, 
and  a  severe  engagement  followed.  Corporal  McArthur,  acting  Sergeant, 
was  in  charge  of  part  of  our  Picket  lines.  About  dark  our  main  force  was  or 
dered  to  retire,  and  McArthur  instructed  to  hold  the  line  for  some  time  after 
the  Brigade  had  moved.  The  night  was  dark.  McArthur  performed  his 
critical  duty  in  the  face  of  a  watchful  enemy  with  great  skill  and  ability  and 
without  loss. 

A  party  of  Regulars  on  Picket  on  his  right  were  also  safely  guided  by  him. 
When  the  party  reached  the  Brigade,  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  Regulars 
was  surprised  to  learn  that  he  had  been  following  the  lead  of  a  Corporal  of 
Volunteers.  Corporal  McArthur  lives  in  comfort  in  New  Era,  Oregon, 
prominent  in  the  G.  A.  R.,  honored  and  respected  by  all  in  his  section  of 
the  State,  as  a  model  citizen. 

CAPTAIN  CHARLES  STUART,  Co.  B,  was  a  most  gallant  commander.  He 
died  June  9,  1889.  His  successor,  Captain  Alexander  Murchison  served 
until  our  muster  out.  He  was  an  able  and  fearless  officer.  He  died  Sep 
tember  3,  1903. 

LIEUT.  WM.  JACKSON,  his  able  assistant,  died  December  10, 1897. 

"Comrade  Jackson  enlisted  at  Elmira  as  sergeant  in  Company  B,  and 
was  mustered  with  the  Regiment  June  17,  1861;  was  promoted  to  second 
lieutenant  October  30,  1861,  and  to  first  lieutenant  July  15,  1862.  He  re 
mained  with  the  regiment  at  the  front  constantly,  and  took  part  in  all  the 


388  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

battles  in  which  it  was  engaged  until  mustered  out,  July  9,  1864,  when  its 
term  of  service  expired. 

"After  the  war  he  was  for  some  years  connected  with  the  State  militia. 
He  organized  the  Elmira  Zouaves  in  July,  1884,  the  company  being  attached 
to  the  Fourth  Regiment  Illinois  National  Guard,  and  in  April,  1891,  was 
commissioned  Colonel  of  that  regiment. 

•'Fraternally,  Comrade  Jackson  was  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  and  a  charter 
member  of  James  Jackson  Post,  No.  37,  G.  A.  R." 

That  he  was  a  splendid  soldier,  a  brave  and  manly  man  and  a  sincere 
and  faithful  friend,  is  the  unanimous  testimony  of  his  comrades  of  the  Nine 
teenth. 

This  splendid  Company  made  an  enviable  record  during  its  years  of 
service.  Captain  Murchison  in  1884  prepared  the  following  sketch  of  its 
organization. 

"The  Company  was  first  organized  some  time  in  the  summer  of  1858,  as  a 
Horse  Company,  at  Elmira,  Stark  Co.,  111.,  to  compete  for  a  premium  of  $50 
offered  by  the  Agricultural  Society  of  Stark  County;  $25  for  the  best  twenty- 
five  horses,  and  $25  for  the  best  trained  twenty-five  horses  and  riders,  to  be 
competed  for  at  the  County  Fair  held  at  Toulon  in  September,  1858.  Both 
premiums  were  taken  by  the  Elmira  Company,  with  that  old  stalwart  go- 
ahead  Captain,  Chas.  Stuart  (so  well  known  to  the  19th)  commanding. 
In  this  contest  several  other  companies  competed,  but  had  no  show. 

During  the  Fall  of  1858,  the  Company  did  good  work  as  escort  in  political 
processions  (for  who  does  not  remember  the  hot  and  earnest  campaigns  of 
'58  and  '60?)  and  had  the  honor  of  escorting  that  grandest  of  men,  A.  Lincoln 
into  Toulon,  the  Couuty  Seat  of  Stark,  headed  by  36  young  ladies,  mounted 
on  horseback,  each  representing  a  State,  followed  by  a  long  train  of  wagons 
and  carriages  (just  such  a  turnout  as  Elmira  could  beat  all  out-doors  on)  with 
Capt,  Stuart  at  the  head. 

From  this  time  up  to  April  13,  1860,  the  Company  met  occasionally  for 
drill.  On  this  occasion,  it  met  to  organize  as  a  Rifle  Company,  to  be  known  as 
the  Elmira  Rifles,  and  elected  Chas.  Stuart,  Captain;  A.  Murchison,  1st 
Lieutenant  but  he  gave  way  to  S.  M.  Hill,  who  claimed  considerable  military 
knowledge,  taking  2nd  Lieutenant.  The  commissions  issued  to  said  offi 
cers  were  signed  John  Wood,  Governor;  O.  M.  Hatch,  Secretary  of  State; 
Thomas  S.  Mather,  Adjutant  General,  I.  S.  M.,  registered  in  Book  A,  page 
62,  and  assigned  the  Company  to  the  67th  Regiment  I.  S.  M. 

The  Company,  thus  organized,  numbered  some  forty  members,  and  met 
occasionally  during  the  year  1860  and  early  Spring  of  '61,  for  drill.  When 
matters  began  to  look  warlike,  a  number  of  young  men  from  Lafayette  joined 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  389 

with  us,  increasing  our  numbers  to  75  or  80,  and  at  the  first  call  for  75,000  men 
we  offered  our  services  to  Gov.  Yates,  but  found  there  was  no  room  for  us. 
We  then  disbanded  the  Lafayette  part  of  the  Company,  but  kept  up  the 
original  organization,  and  went  about  our  every  day  business.  The  writer 
hereof  went  to  his  old  calling  of  breaking  prairie,  but  yet  somewhat  doubtful 
of  that  75,000  men  being  able  to  thrash  all  Rebeldom  into  good  behavior 
And,  sure  enough,  as  I  came  in  from  my  work  one  Saturday  evening,  my  sister 
came  to  the  door  and  handed  me  an  envelope,  which  I  found  contained  a 
telegram  from  Springfield,  ordering  the  Elmira  Rifle  Company  to  report  in 
Chicago  on  June  12,  1861.  I  then  said  good  bye  to  that  breaking  plow,  for 
I  never  saw  it  after  that  afternoon,  though  I  do  not  think  that  the  share  was 
beaten  into  either  a  sword  or  a  pruning  hook.  I  found  myself  in  quite  a  quan 
dary,  with  a  company  numbering  only  forty  men,  Captain  Stuart  in  Ver 
mont  on  a  visit,  with  only  two  days  to  work  in  and  one  of  those  days  Sunday. 
I  remembered  distinctly  that  I  slept  but  little,  but  thought  a  good  deal  on 
that  Saturday  night .  But  morning  found  me  ready  for  work.  After  an  early 
breakfast,  I  started  for  Osceola,  notified  Orderly  Sergeant  Dr.  Pashley  to  have 
notice  given  in  the  churches  at  Osceola,  and  sent  a  notice  to  be  given  in  the 
churches  at  Elmira,  that  there  would  be  a  meeting  held  at  Osceola  (which 
meeting  was  held  in  the  M.  E.  Church)  on  Monday  afternoon,  to  fill  the  Com 
pany  to  the  required  number.  From  there  I  went  to  Kewanee,  sent  a  dispatch 
to  Captain  Stuart  notifying  him  that  the  Company  was  ordered  to  be  in  Chi 
cago  on  the  12th  day  of  June,  1861,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  the  day,  till 
late  at  night,  notifying  everyone  I  saw  of  the  meeting,  requesting  their  at 
tendance.  At  that  meeting,  the  number  on  our  roll  was  increased  to  75  or  80 . 

THE  COMPANY  STARTS  FOR  CHICAGO. 

Tuesday  evening,  we  started  from  Kewanee  to  Chicago  with  86  men, 
but  still  lacked  15  men  of  the  number  we  wanted,  for  nothing  would  suit  us 
but  a  fulUCompany,  101.  Here,  Uncle  Johnny  and  Dr.  Boardman  came  to 
the  rescue  by  saying  to  us:  "Go  on,  boys,  with  what  you  have,  we  will  see  to 
it  that  you  have  your  full  quota."  And,  sure  enough,  the  third  morning 
after  going  into  Camp  Long,  Uncle  Johnny  Turnbull  came  charging  into 
Camp  with  several  more  men  than  we  wanted,  making  it  necessary  for  us 
to  transfer  three  to  Company  C  and  two  to  Company  D.  But  to  go  back  to 
our  arrival  in  Chicago:  We  had  no  orders  where  to  report  or  who  to  report  to. 
I  knew  that  we  would  be  all  right  if  Stuart  could  only  get  there,  and  I  knew 
if  it  was  possible  he  would  be  there.  And,  sure  enough,  he  was.  I  don't 
know  that  I  ever  felt  better  pleased  than  I  did  as  I  heard  Captain  Stuart's 
quick  sharp  "Halt!"  as  we  were  rounding  the  corner  of  the  City  Hotel,  corner 


390  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

of  Lake  and  State  streets.  The  first  thing  on  the  programme  then  was  break 
fast  at  the  City  Hotel,  next,  a  hall  to  stop  in  till  a  camp  was  established. 
During  the  day,  we  found  that  grand  and  noble  soldier,  Col.  Joseph  R.  Scott, 
who  so  willingly  gave  his  young  and  manly  life  for  his  country.  From  this 
time  out,  the  history  of  Company  B  and  the  19th  is  one  and  the  same.  In 
its  trials  and  joys  and  fame  there  is  no  distinction  of  Companies.  They  were 
one — the  gallant  Nineteenth." 

THOMAS  E.  PATTERSON,  COMPANY  E.  One  of  the  youngest  soldiers  in 
the  Regiment.  He  displayed  marked  courage  and  ability  in  the  performance 
of  every  duty  assigned  him.  Soon  after  the  war  he  went  West,  where  his 
sterling  qualities  soon  brought  him  deserved  recognition  and  prosperity.  He 
is  now  serving  his  second  term  as  Mayor  of  the  flourishing  city  of  North 
Platte,  Nebraska. 

CORPORAL  HOWARD  (FIELD )BEARDSLEY, COMPANY  I.  Comrade  Beardsley, 
of  Company  I,  a  most  gallant  soldier  was  seriously  injured  in  the  railroad 
wreck  of  September  17,  1861.  After  an  absence  of  several  months,  he  re 
joined  his  regiment  and  served  out  his  three  years.  He  claims  that  he  and 
M.  V.  Foley  were  the  first  Iowa  boys  to  enlist  for  three  years  and  they  had  to 
go  to  Galena,  Illinois,  to  do  it.  Mr.  Beardsley  comes  from  a  patriotic  family. 
Col.  David  Field  of  Deerfield,  Mass.,  who  commanded  the  Hampshire  County 
Regiment  during  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  was  his  great,  great  grandfather; 
Elihu  Field,  a  revolutionary  soldier,  was  his  great  grandfather,  and  his  grand 
father,  Henry  Field,  served  in  the  War  of  1812. 

H.  S.  DIETRICH,  COMPANY  A.  Comrade  Dietrich  was  among  the  young 
est  in  our  ranks.  After  over  three  years  of  honorable  service,  during  which 
he  participated  in  the  stirring  events  described  in  these  pages  with  distin 
guished  gallantry. 

He  later  was  appointed  State  Inspector  of  Rifle  Practice,  with  the  rank 
of  Colonel.  He  died  July  8,  1909. 

CORPORAL  THOMAS  G.  LAWLER,  COMPANY  E.  Comrade  Lawler,  one  of 
the  best  soldiers  in  the  Regiment,  active  in  the  G.  A.  R.  He  was  elected 
Commander  in  Chief  in  1894.  Successful  in  civil  life,  he  was  greatly  honored 
and  respected  by  his  fellow  citizens  of  Rockford,  111,  where  he  died  Feb 
ruary  3,  1908. 

SERGEANT  W.  H.  WILDE Y  OF  COMPANY  A,  better  known  as  Harry,  is 
still  active.  He  was  a  most  gallant  soldier,  as  Sergeant  of  General  O.  M. 
MitcheFs  Scouts  in  Tennessee  and  northern  Alabama.  He  proved  his  sterling 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  391 

soldierly  abilities  in  many  daring  scouts,  and  was  highly  commended  by  his 
superior  officer.  He  is  a  leading  citizen  of  Mount  Carroll,  111.  He  left  us 
August  17,  1863  to  accept  promotion  as  First  Lieutenant  in  another  Regiment. 

LIEUTENANT  H.  E.  CARTER,  COMPANY  D,  a  fine  officer  and  gallant  sol 
dier.  Owing  to  his  residence  in  another  State,  he  has  been  with  us  but 
seldom  since  the  War  days.  His  former  comrades  will  be  pleased  to  see  his 
likeness.  He  is  comfortably  situated  and  well  preserved.  His  home  is  in 
Detroit,  Michigan. 

SERGEANT  THOMAS  BLYTHE,  COMPANY  E.  Every  survivor  will  be 
pleased  to  look  on  the  picture  of  Sergeant  Tom.  None  better  in  the  Regi 
ment,  a  brave  soldier  and  a  most  excellent  non-commissioned  officer. 

He  is  now  a  resident  of  Denver,  Colorado,  somewhat  enfeebled,  but 
deeply  interested  in  the  welfare  of  his  former  comrades  in  arms. 

All  will  read  the  following  with  interest : 
SERGEANT  BLYTHE'S  DEMAND  ON  GOVERNOR  ANDREW  JOHNSON. 

The  following  incident  has  been  furnished  by  Comrade  Blythe,  of  Denver, 
Colorado,  formerly  Sergeant  of  Co.  E. 

While  lying  in  camp  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  in  September,  1862,  we  learned 
that  two  of  our  company,  privates  Mann  and  Welch,  had  been  shot  by  a 
citizen  down  town.  The  men  were  dead  when  brought  to  camp,  and  we  were 
informed  that  the  murderer  had  been  taken  under  guard  to  the  42d  Illinois 
camp  on  the  Franklin  Pike;  about  thirty-five  or  forty  of  us  started  after  the 
man  determined  to  bring  him  over  to  our  own  camp  for  punishment.  On 
arriving  at  the  42d  Illinois  camp,  however,  we  found  that  he  had  been  taken 
to  the  capitol;  we  then  decided  to  proceed  to  thecapitol  and  secure  him,  and 
being  the  ranking  sergeant  present,  I  took  command  of  the  detachment  and 
marched  them  to  the  capitol  grounds,  and  leaving  them  resting  on  their  arms 
outside,  Corporals  Guthrie,  Huntington  and  myself  proceeded  to  find  the 
Governor,  Andrew  Johnson,  who  we  found  in  Company  with  Colonel  Gilman, 
of  the  First  Tennessee,  coming  down  the  steps.  I  at  once  demanded  the 
prisoner  of  the  governor  and  he  inquired  by  what  authority  I  made  the  demand. 
I  replied  that  as  the  men  who  were  killed  belonged  to  our  company  we  took  the 
authority  upon  ourselves,  as  we  thought  the  prisoner  should  be  tried  by  drum 
head  court-martial.  We  could  do  nothing  with  the  governor,  however;  in 
stead,  he  ordered  Col.  Gilman  to  place  us  all  under  arrest,  and  to  send  us  to 
General  Negley's  headquarters.  On  arriving  there  I  stated  the  case  to  the 
General,  who  did  not  seem  to  think  very  highly  of  it  and  gave  us  a  great 
talk  about  foraging.  I  told  him  we  had  not  been  foraging  but  it  did  not 
seem  to  make  much  impression,  and  he  gave  us  another  lecture,  telling  us 


392  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

what  a  great  breach  of  military  disicpline  I  had  been  guilty  of  in  taking  so 
many  armed  men  out  of  camp  without  instructions  from  the  officer  in  com 
mand,  and  demanding  a  prisoner  from  the  governor  of  the  state.  And  when 
he  got  through  I  thought  it  was  all  up  with  me.  However,  he  finally  told  me 
to  take  the  men  back  to  camp,  and  that  he  would  see  that  the  prisoner  was 
duly  tried  and  punished.  I  was  glad  to  get  off  so  cheaply,  but  to  my  knowl 
edge  nothing  was  ever  done  to  the  murderer. 

LIEUTENANT  ALVAH  MANSUR,  COMPANY  H,  died  at  Pasadena,  Cal.  Com 
rade  Mansur  enlisted  at  Moline,  111.,  in  the  Moline  Rifles,  and  was  mustered 
with  that  company  into  the  Nineteenth  Illinois  as  second  lieutenant  June  17, 
1861.  He  was  promoted  to  first  lieutenant  Dec.  1,  1861,  and  resigned  July  22 
1863. 

After  the  war  Comrade  Mansur  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  agricultural 
implements  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  under  the  firm  name  of  Deere,  Mansur  &  Co., 
which  attained  a  world- wide  celebrity. 

He  was  a  courteous  and  capable  officer,  and  a  talented  and  educated 
gentleman.  He  always  took  an  appreciative  interest  in  the  club,  and  was 
most  liberal  in  furthering  any  worthy  object  which  it  undertook. 

CAPTAIN  K.  H.  CHANDLER,  COMPANY  F,  was  an  able  and  fearless  officer 
quiet  and  unassuming.  At  the  Battle  of  Stone  River,  January  2,  1863,  he 
was  instantly  killed  while  leading  his  company.  No  more  loyal  or  gallant 
officer  than  he  fell  in  defense  of  his  country. 

SERGEANT  RUEBEN  F.  COFFIN  OF  COMPANY  G,  later  of  Bridges'  Battery, 
a  most  gallant  soldier,  in  a  recent  letter,  referring  to  the  Battle  of  Missionary 
Ridge,  says:  "Our  Battery  was  stationed  on  Orchard  Knob,  where  I  think 
we  did  credit  to  the  Regiment.  We  exploded  two  caissons  on  the  Ridge,  near 
Bragg's  headquarters,  but  as  our  lines  advanced  up  the  Ridge  we  had  to  cease 
firing.  I  then  had  a  chance  to  observe  the  Infantry  lines.  Our  attention  was 
attracted  to  one  Flag,  near  the  right  of  Bragg's  headquarters,  and  watched  it 
closely,  as  it  was  in  advance — saw  it  go  down  twice;  that  meant  two  Color 
bearers  shot;  but  Flag  or  line  did  not  stop.  I  heard  General  Granger  exclaim, 
'Oh!  how  I  would  like  to  shake  hands  with  that  Color  bearer.'  I  learned 
later  it  was  the  Flag  of  the  Nineteenth  Illinois.  All  honor  to  the  Nine 
teenth.  I  feel  proud  of  the  record  they  made  and  that  I  belonged  to  the 
organization." 

Comrade  Coffin  resides  at  Walnut  Grove,  Longmount,  Colorado. 

LIEUTENANT  JOHN  DEDRICK,  COMPANY  H.  A  most  gallant  and  fearless 
officer,  always  on  duty  with  his  company.  He  is  now  retired  from  active 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  393 

duties,  after  a  successful  business  career  in  his  home  city,  Geneseo,  Illinois. 

JAMES  GAFFNEY,  COMPANY  A.  Comrade  Gaffney  remains  with  us — the 
same  genial  spirit  as  when  with  us  in  his  youth.  As  soldier  or  wagon 
master  he  was  always  to  be  relied  on,  and  always  at  the  front. 

JAMES  BLOOMFIELD,  COMPANY  A.  Comrade  Bloomfield,  Secretary  of  the 
Nineteenth  Illinois  Veteran  Club,  is  an  earnest  and  devoted  worker  in  the  inter 
est  of  our  Club.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Committee  having  in  charge  the 
publication  of  this,  our  History,  on  which  he  has  done  much  valuable  woik. 

His  record  as  a  soldier  is  an  enviable  one,  always  ready  for  duty,  brave  in 
action,  cheerful  and  contented.  No  matter  what  befell,  he  was  throughout  his 
service  a  "model  soldier." 

During  an  engagement  near  Tuscumbia,  Alabama,  in  1862,  he  was  taken 
prisoner,  and  after  much  suffering,  was  duly  exchanged,  and  again  entered  the 
ranks  of  the  Regiment,  serving  until  our  final  muster  out,  July  9,  1864. 


394  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

The  writer  regrets  he  did  not  secure  photographs  of  all 
who  deserved  recognition.  Among  the  missing,  all  of  whom 
served  with  courage  and  devotion,  we  mention  the  following : 

Quartermaster  Sergeant  H.  A.  Downs. 

Robt.  R.  Sampson,  Company  A. 

Joseph  M.  Spahn,  Company  A. 

John  Q.  Fergus,  Company  A. 

James  C.  McElhose,  Company  C. 

Miles  Martin,  Company  C. 

Thomas  King,  Company  E. 

T.  H.  Agnew,  Company  E. 

Sergeant  Joseph  T.  Johnson,  Company  K. 

James  Fenton,  Company  K. 

Andrew  Burns,  Company  K. 

Win.  Butler,  Company  K. 

Albert  Heller,  Company  K. 

James  Ryan. 

Wm.  C.  Burton. 

And  manv  others. 


THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  395 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

J.  HENRY  HAYNIE FRONTISPIECE. 

OPPOSITE   PAGE. 

APPLEBEE,  FRANK 280 

BANGS,  LESTER  G.,  ADJUTANT 176 

BEARDSLEY,  HOWARD  F 320 

BEATTY,  T.  M.,  LIEUTENANT 152 

BLOOMFIELD,  JAMES 256 

BREMNER,  DAVID  F.,  CAPTAIN 78 

BREMNER,  DAVID  F.,  OVERCOAT 272 

BOLLES,  JACOB 184 

BLYTHE,  THOMAS 280 

BRINKMAN,  AUGUST .   184 

CARTER,  H.  E.,  LIEUTENANT 312 

CHANDLER,  K.  W.,  CAPTAIN 208 

CHRISTIAN,  W.  H 218 

COFFIN,  REUBEN  F 256 

DEDRICK,  JOHN,  LIEUTENANT 312 

GAFFNEY,  JAMES 320 

GUTHRIE,  JAMES  V.,  MAJOR 80 

GUTHRIE,  PETER  F 256 

HAYNIE,  J.  HENRY,  COMMANDER  CHARLES  WARD  POST,  G.  A.  R     .      .   349 

HEATH,  CHARLES  G 184 

JACKSON,  WILLIAM,  LIEUTENANT 176 

KELLY  FIELD,  CHICKAMAUGA 224 

LAWLER,  THOMAS  G.  . 144 

MCARTHUR,  DAVID 144 

MANSUR,  ALVAH,  LIEUTENANT 208 


396  THE  NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS 

ILLUSTRATIONS — Continued. 

OPPOSITE  PAGE, 

MERCER,  JOHN 312 

MONUMENT,  SNODGRASS  HILL 293 

MONUMENT,  MISSIONARY  RIDGE 302 

MONUMENT,  MISSIONARY  RIDGE  DEDICATION 304 

MONUMENT,  MISSIONARY  RIDGE,  BRONZE  PANEL 300 

NEGLEY,  JAMES  S.,  MAJOR  GENERAL 168 

NEVINS,  WM.,  DRUM  MAJOR 320 

OFFICERS'  GROUP,  1864 16 

PATTERSON,  T.  C 280 

RAFFEN,  ALEX  W.,  LIEUTENANT  COLONEL 80 

ROSECRANS,  W.  S.,  MAJOR  GENERAL 192 

REUNION,  1888 32 

REUNION,  1911 58 

SCOTT,  JOSEPH  R.,  COLONEL 80 

SWIFT,  R.  K.,  BRIGADIER  GENERAL 64 

SNODGRASS  HOUSE,  CHICKAMAUGA 232 

THOMAS,  GEORGE  H.,  MAJOR  GENERAL 160 

TURCHIN,  JOHN  B.,  BRIGADIER  GENERAL 96 

VREELAND,  JOHN  E 218 

WILDEY,  W.  H.    .    .    .  ' '. 144 

YOUNG,  JOHN,  LIEUTENANT 240 

COMPANY  B   .  .    387 


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